If you are going to live in a college dormitory, county health officials suggest you get vaccinated against meningococcal disease.
"A lot of people have this organism living quietly in their noses and throats," said Dr. Robert Levin, Ventura County's public health officer. "It may not cause any symptoms for them, but it could be very serious for you."
Meningococcal disease is not common, but the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has reported an increase in cases since mid-March. Meningococcal disease is a life-threatening, bacterial illness that can cause meningitis, blood infections, disabilities and death, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
No cases have shown up in Ventura County recently, but Levin said public health officials are monitoring the situation.
"As soon as I heard of the cluster of cases in L.A. County, I thought about being much more alert to the possibility of seeing something here," he said.
Levin said he has been in contact with his department's communicable disease specialist and has checked with those in charge of county death certificates to see if anyone here has died of the disease.
"This is an infrequent disease with very severe consequences," said Los Angeles County's director of public health, Dr. Jonathan Fielding. "We have a case fatality (rate) of 10 to 20 percent."
Of the seven cases reported in Los Angeles County since mid-March, two of the patients have died. One was an adult and one was a 10-year-old.
Fielding said he has no idea why the number of cases has increased.
Adolescents ages 16 through 21 have the highest rates of meningococcal disease, which is why Levin recommends vaccinations for young adults who are going to be living with other young adults.
The CDC recommends kids be vaccinated at 11 or 12. As of March 11, the CDC also is recommending a booster shot for those 16 to 18.
The disease is not spread through the air but through close contact with an infected person's respiratory or throat secretions, like saliva.
Symptoms include high fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, skin rash and an aversion to bright lights.
Fielding said the disease can be treated with antibiotics if caught early.
The vaccine is safe for those as young as 2 and should be given to children 2 through 10 who have compromised immune systems. It's also recommended for military personnel traveling to countries where meningococcal disease is common, such as Africa.
"It's one of the vaccinations the Navy gives all recruits in boot camp," said Doug Allen, public affairs officer for Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, the command unit responsible for health care of those at Naval Base Ventura County.
Levin said the vaccine is readily available at Ventura County Public Health clinics. For a list of clinics, visit http://www.vchca.org/public-health or call 981-5221.
Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/02/dormitory-dwellers-among-those-who-should-get/?partner=RSS#ixzz1LLNHfdIa
- vcstar.com
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