Brothers with rare condition survived meningitis, urge vigilance
UKPulse Health Desk
Two brothers from Wrexham, Saul and Drew Darlington, who both contracted meningitis as teenagers, are raising awareness of the illness after discovering they have a rare condition that makes them susceptible to it.
- Saul and Drew Darlington, now 29 and 26, both contracted meningitis within a year of each other as teenagers.
- Tests revealed both brothers have properdin deficiency, a rare immunodeficiency increasing their susceptibility to infections like meningitis.
- Nearly 20,000 young people in Wales have received a first dose of a meningitis B vaccine through catch-up clinics following an outbreak in Kent.
Saul and Drew Darlington, from Wrexham, say they are fortunate to be alive after both contracting meningitis as teenagers within a year of each other. Saul, now 29, was 17 when he first experienced symptoms, while Drew, now 26, was 16 when he became unwell almost exactly a year later.
The brothers later learned they both have properdin deficiency, a rare immunodeficiency that makes them more susceptible to infections such as meningitis. They now take daily antibiotics.
Following a deadly outbreak of meningitis B in Kent earlier this year, catch-up vaccination clinics have been held in Wales and England. Public Health Wales reported that 19,700 young people have received their first dose through the programme, with 14,459 also having a second dose.
Clinics are being offered at universities across the country during the initial weeks of term. Caroline Hughes from the Meningitis Research Foundation stated that young people can be at increased risk of meningitis due to factors like mixing with many people and increased independence.
Why this matters: Meningitis can be very serious if not treated quickly, and awareness of symptoms and available vaccines is important, particularly for young people who may be at increased risk.
What this means for you: If you are a young person starting further or higher education in September 2026 and have not had protection against the most prevalent strain of meningitis, vaccination catch-up clinics are being held at universities.