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ADFA
MIDN loses fight with infection
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Report
symptoms immediately
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Symptoms
of meningitis and meningoccal septicaemia include; high temperature
and fever possibly with cold hands and feet, vomiting sometimes
diarrhoea, and severe headache. Neck stiffness can be a symptom,
you are unable to touch your chin to your chest; you may also
be light sensitive.
Joint or muscle pains can accompany the disease, sometimes
there will be stomach cramps in the case of septicaemia. There
may also be drowsiness, fits and confusion or disorientation.
If you display some or all of these symptoms get help immediately.
Make sure you tell someone you may have meningococcal disease
or meningitis.
Ed. |
ACT
Public Health officials say Meningococcal disease took the life
of an RAN midshipman in Canberra late last month. Matthew Lipianin,
19, a student at ADFA, reported ill to the Canberra Area Medical
Unit at Duntroon on Friday, August 30.
He died the next day.
In a statement his family said Matthew loved the Australian Defence
Force Academy (ADFA) and the Navy. He was happy and proud to be
a member of both.
“We accept that this is a terrible disease that develops very
suddenly and that all appropriate support and care was taken by
the Doctor, Midshipmen and Officer Cadets and all others involved.
“We have agreed to the release of all information relating
to Matthew’s death in the hope that people become educated
as to the symptoms and signs of Meningococcal Disease. Hopefully
education of this disease will help prevent tragedies like this
from occurring in the future.”
As a result of Matthew’s death ADFA staff, midshipmen and officer
cadets who had close contact with the man were identified and given
preventative anti-biotics.
Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, Mrs Danna Vale sent
her deepest sympathy to the man’s family on behalf of the Government.
“As is the case of every Australian family touched by this
terrible disease, our thoughts and prayers go out to the midshipman’s
family and friends at this trying time,” Mrs Vale said. “I
would also like to offer my condolences to the staff and the midshipman’s
classmates at ADFA.”
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