New medical response announced for meningococcal cases at St Mary’s Catholic College Cairns
The principal of a Cairns high school that reported three cases of meningococcal has announced the latest medical response plan for the school community following an urgent antibiotics rollout last week. FIND OUT MORE
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
UPDATE, MONDAY MAY 30: THE medical response to three rare cases of meningococcal B at the St Mary’s Catholic College has recommenced this week with a follow-up vaccination plan in place for the school community.
Following an urgent medical response to distribute antibiotics to students and staff at St Mary’s Catholic College last week, college principal Wayne Wood announced on Monday, an optional vaccine rollout would commence on Wednesday following a “really resounding, positive response” to the antibiotics.
Mr Wood said parents would receive consent forms for their children to receive the free vaccine as part of the Tropical Public Health Services response.
Dr Annie Preston-Thomas of the Tropical Public Health Services said the vaccine was an option for further protection against what could become a severe disease.
“The antibiotics were to work quickly in clearing the bug from the back of people’s throats, the vaccine may take longer but it also stays longer and helps your body to build its own defence,” she said.
“Under 5-year-olds and adolescents are more commonly carriers of the bug and more likely to be affected, so as part of this public health response, parents don’t need to get the vaccine.”
TPHS Dr Tonia Marquardt said the service had gone to extraordinary lengths by offering these rollouts to the whole school, but going beyond to families was an “extra, unnecessary layer”.
“The risk of students contracting it at school was already incredibly low and it’s been reduced even further by the antibiotics but nothing is 100 per cent,” she said.
“You can get these intermittent late cases popping up and that’s why we felt it was appropriate to offer the vaccine for additional protection.”
Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Services confirmed two cases of meningococcal linked to St Mary’s remain in stable condition at Cairns Hospital.
UPDATE, FRIDAY MAY 27: THE urgent medical response to distribute antibiotics after three cases of meningococcal were detected at a Cairns school has ended.
St Mary’s Catholic College principal Wayne Wood said they were able to roll out the antibiotics very quickly after two students and a female teacher contracted the disease.
“Overnight we had a strong and immediate response to it,” Mr Wood said.
“About 95 per cent of parents responded and provided consent for the antibiotics. Of course we respect the choice of parents who did not wish to take part in it.”
Mr Wood said there were a number of stations set up by Tropical Public Health Services.
“We were able to roll students in quite quickly because it’s one tablet and water,” he said.
“We also made it available for parents to come and pick up if they had students at home or away. We had two windows for parents — 8 to 10am and 2pm to 4pm.
But it is not over yet, Mr Wood said they would wait to hear from officials.
“We will have more advice from the physicians who are overseeing it this afternoon,” he said. “There will be a letter sent out this afternoon. The feeling was it needed to be very quick and all together.”
It was reported on Friday morning there were no new cases of the disease.
“I can confirm today there have been no new cases identified,” Cairns and Hinterland Hospital Health Services director of public health Dr Richard Gair said.
While one patient was discharged from hospital, the other two are in stable conditions.
“Outside of the school we are not very concerned about the spread, however the spread across the year levels is a concern, which is why yesterday (Thursday) all students and staff at the school were offered antibiotics in case they are carrying the bacteria,” he said.
“The increased risk is confined to those who regularly attend the school, staff, and students. Even in outbreaks, most of those exposed do not develop illness.”
Mr Wood was relieved to hear of no new cases.
“Last night was a nervous wait to see if there were anymore who came through,” he said.
“We knew students were in hospital for various things we didn’t know what for. We were hoping there wasn’t a fourth.”
But parents have praised the schools response.
Parent Ryan Daruca said the management team at the school were great.
“We were a bit scared yesterday but we know the teachers will keep the kids safe and they are doing what they can,” he said.
Rachel Arnold said she was alarmed initially.
“I am very happy they offered the tablet,” she said.
Dr Gair said meningococcal bateria was carried by 10 per cent of the population harmlessly at the back of the throat or in the nose at any given time.
“The three cases would have been in contact with someone carrying the strain which is causing illness,” he said.
“The bacteria can be spread via droplets from the nose or throat during coughing and sneezing or close contact.”
FRIDAY MAY 27, 10AM: A statement from Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service has confirmed no new cases of the deadly disease.
“No further cases of meningococcal have been reported in Cairns in past 24 hours; and two people being treated for the illness are still in stable condition in Cairns Hospital,” the statement read.
So far, two students and a teacher at St Mary’s Catholic College have contracted meningococcal.
This comes as experts work to stop the disease from spreading by offering the school access to antibiotics from Friday.
EARLIER, 5AM FRIDAY MAY 27: AN urgent medical response to an outbreak of meningococcal at a Cairns school begins today as experts move quickly to stem the disease.
Swift action has been taken by St Mary’s Catholic College and Cairns Hospital and Hinterland Health Service since three cases of the deadly disease were recorded this week.
Two students and a teacher have been confirmed as having the bacterial disease with one patient already released from hospital and two others in a stable condition.
St Mary’s Catholic College principal Wayne Wood said those within the school community would be able to access antibiotics from Friday if they wished to take them.
“The decision once we had three cases was the whole community (school) needed to receive the antibiotics. The antibiotics is a one tablet dose. It is very easily administered,” he said.
“A letter is heading out to parents as we speak (on Thursday morning) and there will be a consent form that will be sent out as well. From there, we will be able to roll it out beginning from tomorrow (Friday) morning.
“There is an urgency to have the rollout as soon as possible.”
My First Year: FNQ, Cairns prep students start first year of school
Mr Wood said the school’s priority was to communicate with the families and the students, arranging separate zoom conferences for both groups earlier on Thursday.
A letter was sent out on Monday to advise parents of one case and another was sent on Wednesday to tell them about two.
“Immediately it was about notifying the families that we had three cases which is unusual for a school and to be on one site,” he said.
“It was a very big response, we chose to have a Zoom meeting rather than have parents on site. That allowed parents who were at work to access it.”
Parents have reported their shock at the news however were comforted by the level of communication from the school and health authorities.
The Palms: Catholic primary school approvals due for Kewarra Beach development
Parent Scott Callaghan said parents were relieved after the Zoom meeting.
“It is a bit of a shock. No one was expecting to have those calls,” Mr Callaghan said.
“Everyone seems to be happy that the school has jumped on to it quick. The Zoom call this morning with doctors involved was good, they were trying to make sure there were no panic stations.
“I got on there this morning, to make sure we are understanding of what the school’s response is. They were pretty good with it.”
While students at neighbouring schools do not need the antibiotics, parents at St Gerard Majella Primary School – right next door to St Mary’s – were also contacted.
NAPLAN results Cairns: Top primary, secondary schools revealed
St Gerard Majella parent Rebecca Schenk remains unfazed by the newest illness.
“I’m not overly concerned about it at the moment,” she said.
“The school have definitely kept in touch with us and let us know what’s happening which I think is really proactive considering it isn’t even in our school.”
Tropical Public Health Services (TPHS) director and public health physician Dr Richard Gair said there was no need for people outside of the school to receive the antibiotics.
“Meningococcal disease is a relatively rare illness, however the disease can cause serious illness marked by a rapid deterioration,” Dr Gair said.
UPDATE, THURSDAY 26 MAY: A CAIRNS school has confirmed two students and one teacher have contracted meningococcal with one case already discharged from Cairns Hospital.
St Mary’s Catholic College Principal Wayne Wood said the students confirmed to have the disease were in the senior school.
Two of the cases are still in hospital in stable conditions and neither are in ICU.
“At this stage, the only common link between these cases is that they have all attended our school,” Mr Wood said.
“However, we have been advised it is not necessary to close the school or for any period of quarantine or isolation to occur.
“This is because meningococcal disease does not spread easily, according to the experts working on this case.”
Mr Wood said the school’s priority was to communicate with the families and the students, arranging separate zoom conferences for both groups earlier on Thursday.
“Immediately it was about notifying the families that we had three cases which is unusual for a school and to be on one site,” he said.
“It was a very big response, we chose to have a zoom meeting rather to have parents on site. That allowed parents who were at work to access it.”
The school is working closely with health authorities to ensure everyone at the school receives antibiotics with their consent.
“The decision once we had three cases was the whole community (school) needed to receive the antibiotics. The antibiotics is a one tablet dose. It is very easily administered,” he said.
“A letter is heading out to parents as we speak and there will be a consent form they will be sent out as well. From there, we will be able to roll it out beginning from tomorrow morning.
“There is an urgency to have the rollout as soon as possible.”
Tropical Public Health Services physician Dr Annie Preston-Thomas told parents in Thursday’s Zoom meeting she was hopeful all three would make full recoveries.
TPHS director and public health physician Dr Richard Gair said it was important if anyone got the symptoms to seek medical advice.
“Symptoms are typically fever, headache, nausea, stiff neck, and vomiting and a rash,” he said.
“There’s no need for people outside of the school to receive the antibiotics.”
Mr Wood said school attendance had been low.
“I think schools across the nation have experienced it with influenza A and Covid. So we are in the middle of that as well, but we have had a few students who have remained at home today and it is difficult to determine whether that's through being ill or reluctance to come to school,” he said.
EARLIER: HEALTH authorities have confirmed a number of cases of meningococcal linked to a Cairns school.
Tropical Public Health Services director and public health physician Dr Richard Gair confirmed three cases were associated with St Mary’s Catholic College in the past week.
“Two of the three people are being treated in Cairns Hospital,” Dr Gair said.
“Letters were sent to parents at the school on Monday May 23 to advise of a single
case.
“A further letter was sent on Wednesday May 25 to advise of the two additional
cases and to inform parents of the risks, symptoms of the disease, what to do if they
have any concerns as well as actions being taken to support the students and
families.”
Pharmacists and GPs left scrambling after state government announce free flu shots
Both patients are in stable condition in Cairns Hospital.
Dr Gair said TPHS was liaising closely with the school and will host a forum at the school on Thursday to answer questions and give more information.
“Contact tracing has been undertaken and TPHS have provided antibiotics to close
household contacts in line with the national guidelines,” he said.
“From Thursday, May 26, antibiotics will be offered to students and staff in the school in
case they are carrying the bacteria.”
Meningococcal is a rare illness that can cause serious illness marked by a rapid deterioration.
“Meningococcal disease is caused by bacteria, not by a virus, and is transmitted by
close contact,” he said.
Cairns Hospital emergency department wait times explode
“At any given time, meningococcal bacteria are carried by about 10 per cent of the population
harmlessly at the back of the throat or in the nose.
“The bacteria can be spread via droplets from the nose or throat during coughing and sneezing or close contact such as kissing.
People should be vigilant and alert to the signs and symptoms which include: rash, vomiting, fever, headache, confusion, stiff neck and joint pain.
If concerned, people should seek immediate medical attention as early treatment with
antibiotics can be lifesaving.”
More Coverage
Originally published as New medical response announced for meningococcal cases at St Mary’s Catholic College Cairns
Bashed, stabbed and spat on: Qld’s deadly $70m bus safety fail
Queensland bus drivers are being bashed, stabbed and spat on as violence on the public transport network spirals out of control.
Millions dropped on upmarket Cairns hostel
Take a look inside Cairns newest hostel that make mouldy bathrooms and stuffy rooms a thing of the past. TAKE VIRTUAL TOUR