Olivia invents a new bug, Snifflicocci, and wins a prize

4 November 2009

A £10 book voucher is winging its way to Olivia Walker after the nine year old from Astley, North Manchester, won the Health Protection Agency's "Name your Bug" competition at the Manchester Science Festival 2009.

More than 300 children and their families visited the Agency's booth on meningitis, vaccines and antibodies at the Festival, which was held in the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) during half-term week and over 200 entered the "Name your Bug" competition.

Professor Ray Borrow, Head of the HPA's Vaccine Evaluation Unit in Manchester, said: "The aim of the booth was to educate people of all ages about the different bacteria that cause meningitis and how vaccines work against these.

"Children had great fun making bugs out of playdoh and viewing real bacteria under the microscope. The entries in the Name your Bug competition were of a high order and Olivia did tremendously well to win against powerful competition.

"Olivia named her winning bug Snifflicocci, which struck a chord with the scientists. Indeed anyone who has ever had a cold will relate to it."

Other imaginatively named bugs that impressed the judges were:

Buggogal, invented by Fatimah Menter, aged 12, from Old Trafford.
Sospiteria, created by Natasha Reid, aged 12 from Middleton
Sir Germolot, contributed by William Partridge, aged 11 from Thetford in East Anglia.
Mustachitus, the invention of Mia Johnson, aged 11 from Whitefield.
Super Snot Slug, created by Beth Houghton, aged 10 from Wirral.

Press release issued by Hugh Lamont, Regional Communications Manager, HPA North West. Tel. 0151-482-5728 or 07764-906508.

Last reviewed: 10 November 2009