There were just 22 cases of meningitis W in 2009 , but this shot up to 117 last year , according to Public Health England ( file image ) A major immunisation programme aims to protect teenagers against a potentially lethal new strain of meningitis after a steep rise in cases . There were just 22 cases of meningitis W in 2009 , but this shot up to 117 last year , according to Public Health England . This is a rise of 431 per cent . Some experts said the levels could even indicate a public health emergency . While the rise was initially seen in adults , it has now extended to all age groups and , for the first time in a decade , young children have died as a result of MenW . There has also been a rise in cases among students . It is proposed to immunise teenagers aged 14 to 18 in an attempt to halt the disease ’ s spread . Andrew Pollard , chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation , said the upsurge in cases was caused by a ‘ highly aggressive strain of the bug ’ . He said : ‘ We reviewed the outbreak in detail and concluded that this increase was likely to continue in future years unless action is taken . ‘ We have therefore advised the Department of Health to implement a vaccination programme for teenagers as soon as possible which we believe will have a substantial impact on the disease and protect the public ’ s health. ’ Campaigners said the Government ’ s delay in introducing a vaccine against meningitis B – the last major strain of the disease – may have hindered the fight . Statistics show one baby dies every month in Britain from meningitis B and charities claim dozens of lives have needlessly been lost to the disease because of procrastination by officials . Chris Head , of the Meningitis Research Foundation , said : ‘ We applaud the quick action by the Government to protect 14 to 18-year-olds using the MenACWY vaccine . ‘ However , it will take more than a year for this protection to filter through to toddlers and infants , and in the meantime under-fives will still be dying and disabled as a result of MenW . ’
There were 28 cases of meningitis W in 2010 compared to 22 in 2009 . Some experts claim the disease may cause a public health problem . For the first time some young children have died as a result of MenW .