Second case of meningitis reported as baby admitted to hospital

A baby has been admitted to Mater Dei Hospital suffering from meningitis, marking the second confirmed case of the disease in the past two days.

The health authorities said that the baby did not acquire the illness in a hospital setting, and that the case was not related to the previously reported death of a four-year-old child on Sunday.

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In a statement, the Health Ministry said the two cases were caused by two differing types of bacteria, highlighting that several different bacteria could cause meningitis. It said that the baby was afflicted by a type of meningitis which affect infants in the first three months of life, and that an average of four cases are reported in newborns every year.

The infection caught by the baby is treatable with antibiotics, and no vaccine is available against this type of bacteria, the health authorities said. The best way to prevent such infections is by always ensuring good hand hygiene, especially when in contact with newborn babies who are more vulnerable to infections, they advised.