2015 Meningococcal Update
Updated: February 20, 2015
Three University of Oregon freshmen have fallen ill with type B meningococcal disease since mid-January. On February 17, a freshman student died and health officials are investigating the cause. Tests to confirm whether the recent death was caused by type B are still pending, but
overwhelming evidence, including results from at least two earlier, preliminary tests, suggests it represents a fourth case of Meningococcemia. Lane County health officials, University of Oregon, and Oregon Health Authority are working to prevent further infections.
If you had close contact with one of the ill students...
People who had close contact with one of the ill students should contact Lane County Health Department at
(541) 682-4041. A nurse will help decide whether you should take antibiotics to prevent illness.
...
https://public.health.oregon.gov/Di...coccalDisease/Pages/Meningococcal-Update.aspx
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University prepares to launch full-scale vaccination program
February 20, 2015 - 2:38pm
The UO will begin a large-scale vaccination effort in the first week of March after public health officials said they are ?nearly positive? a student who died this week had a meningococcal illness.
The university has been planning for the clinic for several weeks in the event that a broader meningococcal vaccination effort would be needed. Details about the multi-day clinic will be made available soon.
The University Health Center staff has been vaccinating students daily upon request. Plans are in place to have additional clinical staff support next week to continue to meet campus needs until the larger event can occur.
Three other students are known to have contracted the meningococcemia form of meningococcal illness this year. All three are recovering.
For additional information about the available vaccine or meningococcemia, visit the health center website meningitis.uoregon.edu.
Meningococcal disease is an infection caused by a specific type of bacteria, Neisseria meningitidis. When these bacteria poison the bloodstream, they cause meningococcemia. However, these bacteria can also invade the brain and spinal cord. When this happens, it is called meningitis.
Adolescents and young adults are at increased risk for this disease, but the majority of cases are vaccine-preventable. Currently recommended vaccines offer protection against four major strains, or serogroups, of the bacteria: A, C, W and Y.
All three UO students who had meningococcemia and recovered had the serogroup B form of the bacteria.
Recently, the first vaccines to protect against serogroup B meningococcal disease were approved for ages 10 to 25. These vaccines are now available on the UO campus.
The National Meningitis Association urges all students to get a meningococcal vaccination
The disease is hard to diagnose because symptoms are similar to those of the flu and other illnesses. Because it is fast-moving and debilitating, prevention and knowledge of symptoms is critical.
Additional information meningococcal illness can be found on the NMA website:
http://www.nmaus.org/
http://around.uoregon.edu/content/university-prepares-launch-full-scale-vaccination-program
