Deadly infection acted fast, grieving father says

By Paula Schuck Record staff
The grieving father of a Kitchener teen who died of meningitis is still shocked by the speed of the illness. Melissa Maharaj, 18, the second fatality and sixth victim of the disease, died in a London hospital early Wednesday.

She had been vaccinated a few days before she fell ill.

``It can be fatal and it can be fast acting,'' Melissa's father, Neil Maharaj, said. ``She was very healthy.''

Melissa, an OAC student at Forest Heights Collegiate, is survived by her mother, Susan, father, Neil, and younger sister, Sabrina, 16.

In an emotional interview, her father described his daughter as an extremely healthy teenager with many friends.

``She was quite bright. She would have made something of herself.''

And he said he is confident that health officials handled her case as well as they could.

``I don't see any problem, really,'' Maharaj said. ``It would be nice to point fingers, if somebody caused it. But I don't really see that.

``The thing is the (meningococcal) infection is insidious. It is very, very difficult to discern. Initially, it resembles the flu. You're not feeling well. But when it takes hold, it spreads very rapidly.

``If you tell everybody who is not feeling well in the winter _ if you have a cold, if you are sneezing, if you have a slight temperature _ to go to the hospital, everybody's going to go down there. The whole city's going to go down there.''

Melissa was active as a coach for the Kitchener-Waterloo Synchronized Swimming Club, he said.

She didn't drink or smoke and she was always very clean, washing her hands a lot to avoid germs, her father said.

The whole family is now on antibiotics, and the tragedy proved meningitis can strike anyone, he said.

The onset of Melissa's illness was quick and her initial symptoms were consistent with the flu.

She was taken to a local emergency room Saturday and from there she was rushed to hospital in London, where she remained in intensive care.

Even the health department seemed stumped by Melissa's death, Maharaj said, adding that, to his knowledge, she'd had no contact with the other victims.

``This is what is so frightening now.''

Although Melissa had been inoculated, Waterloo Region's health department has said it takes up to two weeks for the vaccine to take effect.

Melissa had a passion for music, computers and kinesiology, her father said. She played the trumpet, the flute and the guitar, accumulating many awards and trophies in her short life.

At school she belonged to the symphonic band, a travelling musical group that played at high school convocations and other events.

Melissa applied to university and was hoping to receive a scholarship, her father said.

Letters from prestigious schools such as Western in London and Queen's in Kingston had started trickling in this week, but none of the envelopes has been opened.

School lowers flags

At Forest Heights high school, flags were lowered to half-mast as soon as school officials were notified.

Students have been off for Christmas holidays, but principal John Hume said an announcement would be made Monday when they returned.

After consulting with Melissa's parents, the school will decide what sort of tribute to hold, Hume said.

``I think it's a tragedy for the school to lose a student who had been there that long and been a good citizen.''

Scott Jones, a Waterloo city councillor and business teacher at the high school, remembered Melissa fondly.

``She was very bright. She did a really good job on her final data processing project.''

Jones said Melissa was a personable student, who wore brilliant bright blue contact lenses that left a vivid impression.

Michelle Risi, 16, of Kitchener, the first fatality in this meningitis outbreak, died Dec. 4. Two other patients are in hospitals and improving, and two have been sent home.

A few teens who attend Forest Heights were friends of Michelle's, a talented young dancer and student at Resurrection Catholic Secondary School.

When she died, Hume said, it sent a shock wave through Forest Heights as well. Melissa's death is sure to do the same, he said.

Sam Covach, an OACstudent at Melissa's school, said he didn't know her well, but students there have been taking the scare seriously.

``Everyone that I know has gone to get vaccinated.''

A mass vaccination campaign was launched Dec. 20.

Ken Secrett, the father of an OAC student at the school, said the meningitis outbreak had parents fearing for their teenagers.

``The vaccine should have been made available three months ago.''

While some teenagers will still consider themselves indestructible, Hume said he felt there would be a lot less bravado when students return to school in the new year.

The Maharaj family will receive friends at the Westmount Funeral Chapel on Ottawa Street today from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

A funeral service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Hope Lutheran Church in Kitchener. Cremation will follow.