CA: Los Angeles bacterial meningitis case - NO link to NYC outbreak

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Source: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/l...,6196115.story

Case of meningitis-related bacterial illness reported in L.A. County
By Ari Bloomekatz and Anna Gorman
April 11, 2013, 2:17 p.m.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been alerted about a Los Angeles County case of meningococcal infection, a bacteria-caused illness that can lead to potentially deadly meningitis, according to a spokesperson.

Public health officials take such cases very seriously because they involve a ?potentially devastating? disease, said Dr. Thomas Clark, a CDC medical epidemiologist and meningitis expert...

...There are "apparently some similarities" to an especially deadly strain found recently in New York that has resulted in 22 cases, including seven fatalities since 2010. "But it's not identical," Fielding said, and more tests need to be done to see if they are related at all...

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Re: CA: Los Angeles bacterial meningitis case - may be related to NYC outbreak

Source: http://www.times-standard.com/staten...arn-meningitis

West Hollywood officials warn of meningitis
The Associated Press
Posted: 04/12/2013 02:39:56 PM PDT
Updated: 04/12/2013 02:39:56 PM PDT

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif.?

...Councilman John Duran said Friday a case detected in Los Angeles County may be from a similar strain that circulated among gay men in New York City...

[Catbird]

Re: CA: Los Angeles bacterial meningitis case - may be related to NYC outbreak

"Attorney dies of meningitis as L.A. officials warn public

April 12, 2013

A West Hollywood lawyer diagnosed with meningitis earlier this week died Friday, heightening concerns by local officials about the possible spread of the disease.

West Hollywood City Councilman John Duran said in a telephone interview Friday evening that resident Brett Shaad died at about 4:45 p.m. after being taken off life support.

This meningitis case and others that have struck gay men in New York City have officials in West Hollywood warning residents to take precautions.

...Also late in the day, the medical director of the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center called on county health officials to make the meningitis vaccine available for free to any gay and bisexual man who wants to receive it.

During a midafternoon news conference at West Hollywood City Hall, a choked-up Duran said the infected lawyer was brain-dead, in a coma and ?not coming back.? A few hours later, he sent a Twitter alert saying he was ?sad to report that our friend and resident with meningitis has passed.?

Only a week or so, Duran said, he had seen the lawyer, whom he described as extremely fit...".

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Re: CA: Los Angeles bacterial meningitis case - may be related to NYC outbreak

Source: http://www.stableytimes.com/news/men...ontagiousness/

Meningitis outbreak in Hollywood: details on symptoms, vaccine, contagiousness
Posted by Stabley Times on Apr 12, 2013 in Humanity

Meningitis has killed at least one man in Hollywood, raising concerns about a Los Angeles area outbreak and leading residents scrambling for information on the symptoms and contagiousness of the rare disease, along with details about a vaccine. The man was diagnosed earlier in the week and died on Friday. Residents of Palm Springs, particularly those who attended last week?s White Party, have also shown concern with the disclosure that the infected man had attended the party...

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Re: CA: Los Angeles bacterial meningitis case - may be related to NYC outbreak

Source: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/lo...202929751.html


Meningitis Not Just "Gay Disease"
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation will give out 10,000 free meningitis vaccines starting Monday after West Hollywood man dies

By Heather Navarro
| Sunday, Apr 14, 2013 | Updated 3:16 PM PDT

The day after a West Hollywood man died from bacterial meningitis, one of the city's councilmen urged people not to classify the disease as only affecting one community because it's not contracted by having sex.

During a Sunday afternoon conference call to announce a series of free vaccines across Los Angeles, West Hollywood City Councilman John Duran said no one is immune from the highly infectious disease...

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Re: CA: Los Angeles bacterial meningitis case - may be related to NYC outbreak

Source: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/lo...203307671.html


Two More Southern California Meningitis Deaths Come to Light
The rare illness is most often spread through person-to-person contact such as kissing, sex, or sharing food.

By Brandon Lowrey
| Wednesday, Apr 17, 2013 | Updated 12:04 AM PDT

Two more recent Southern California bacterial meningitis deaths have come to light after the illness rapidly killed a West Hollywood man last week.

Brett Shaad, 33, a West Hollywood attorney died on Saturday night. Officials in West Hollywood quickly alerted the gay community to the case of the sometimes deadly, contagious infection.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which is offering free meningitis vaccines, on Tuesday announced two previous deaths: Rjay Spoon, 30, of downtown Los Angeles died on Dec. 16; and an unidentified 30-year-old San Diego State University student who lived in Chula Vista died on Dec. 10...

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Re: CA: Los Angeles bacterial meningitis case - may be related to NYC outbreak

Source: http://www.wehoville.com/2013/04/17/...t-an-outbreak/

LA County Health Officials: Number of Meningitis Cases Average, Not an ?Outbreak?
Wed, Apr 17 | By City News Service

Los Angeles County health officials announced today that the meningitis vaccine would be made available at no charge for low-income and uninsured residents amid growing concern about the potentially deadly and rare infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord.

Since November, there have been 13 cases of meningococcal meningitis reported in Los Angeles County, including four infections among gay men, two of which have been fatal, said Jonathan E. Fielding, the county director of public health.

?It?s a very serious disease, but it?s also a rare disease,? Fielding told reporters at an afternoon news conference, adding that the number of reported cases was about average and could not be considered an ?outbreak...?

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Re: CA: Los Angeles bacterial meningitis case - NO link to NYC outbreak

Source: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/l...%28L.A.+Now%29

No meningitis link between L.A. and New York cases, officials say
By Ari Bloomekatz
April 22, 2013, 1:25 p.m.

In an effort to quash any fears of a patterned outbreak, Los Angeles County health officials said a fatal case of meningitis discovered earlier this month is not connected to any others across the country.

?Public Health has not identified any other cases of meningococcal disease associated with this patient, nor identified any linkage between this patient and cases being reported in other areas of the country,? according to a news release from the Department of Public Health...