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Brothers Lucky to Survive Rare Meningitis Strain
29 Sep
Summary
- Two brothers contracted meningitis within a year.
- They had a rare condition making them susceptible.
- Meningitis B outbreak prompted vaccinations in Wales.
Two brothers, Saul and Drew Darlington, aged 29 and 26, recount their harrowing experiences with meningitis. They contracted the illness within a year of each other as teenagers. What initially seemed like an unusual coincidence was later identified as a rare genetic condition that left them vulnerable to the disease.
Saul Darlington described the severity of his illness, stating that going to sleep on the day he contracted meningitis could have been fatal. The brothers now aim to raise awareness about the symptoms of meningitis, particularly targeting young people. This initiative follows a recent deadly outbreak of meningitis B in Kent.
In response to the outbreak, extensive vaccination efforts were undertaken in Wales. Approximately 20,000 young people have received vaccinations through catch-up clinics, underscoring the public health response to the meningitis threat.
