Fears over meningitis superbug strains

MENINGITIS C superbugs that are impervious to vaccines could pose a new threat to children, research claimed yesterday.

Scientists in the UK have identified three strains with heightened resistance to vaccine-triggered immune responses.

At present there are no reports of emerging vaccine-resistant meningitis C. But experts fear if the strains get a foothold they could undermine the vaccine, introduced in 1999.

Each year, more than 2,000 people, mostly children, are affected by meningitis in Britain, costing 300 lives.