But the WA Health Department believes it is now dealing with a dangerous new strain. Genetic tests have been sent to the United States to determine whether the strain is connected to the enterovirus outbreak that killed 104 children in Taiwan last year. The New South Wales and Victorian health departments said yesterday they were monitoring the situation in WA but had not recorded any increase in enterovirus closer to home. A WA Health Department spokeswoman, Ms Peron Wood, said most strains were relatively harmless but some rare mutations could lead to death. From what I understand it manifested itself a little bit differently from this strain,'' she said.
Most adults are immune to the virus through a childhood bout of chicken pox.
The 14 children infected with meningitis had all made a full recovery. The Age Company Ltd 2000. Any unauthorised use, copying or mirroring is prohibited.