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Vaccine-preventable diseases
Scientists are working diligently to come up with a vaccine to prevent the continuation of COVID-19 pandemic. There are many diseases though that we face in our lifetime that are vaccine -preventable. An example is Meningococcal Disease. It is a bacterial disease that can cause meningitis, an infection and swelling of the brain and spinal cord […]
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Didn’t See
A doctor who diagnosed Daniel Christopher Roulant, 22, a young Queenslander with a cold had no way of knowing he would die from meningitis six days later. Mr Roulant’s sister April, had not heard from her brother in days so she contacted one of his flatmates to check on him. When both flatmates went to […]
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Tragic Loss
Everett Halikas, an Arcata High School athlete was rushed to UCSF and died of a form of bacterial meningitis. Dr. Teresa Frankovich, Humboldt County’s Public Health Officer said, “his diagnosis is unrelated to COVID-19. This is a bacteria not a virus. Parents think about vaccinating, Meningococcal disease is a preventable disease.” Read the full article
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Protect Preteens
Lowndes County Health Department is joining the Georgia Department of Public Health in recognizing March 9-13 as Georgia Preteen Vaccine Awareness Week in an effort to keep every adult and child safe. The week serves as a reminder for parents to talk with their preteens and teens about getting immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases, health officials […]
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Hospital Failure
Lewys Crawford’s temperature remained high so his parents decided to take him straight to the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) in Cardiff. Clinicians failed to administer broad spectrum antibiotics until more than six hours after Lewys arrival so the 13-week-old baby boy died the following day of meningococcal septicaemia (Group B). His parents heard at […]
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Life Lost
The University of Canterbury community is mourning the tragic death of a student from meningococcal disease. Canterbury DHB medical officer of health, Dr Ramon Pink said, “Meningococcal disease is a fast-moving illness, which has symptoms similar to a number of other illnesses such as influenza.” If you suspect someone in your family may have meningococcal […]
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School Alert
Ashton-on-Mersey secondary school issued a warning to parents after a student was struck down with meningococcal disease. Public Health England say the bacterial infection can lead to both meningitis affecting the brain & spinal cord or septicaemia (affecting the blood). Many people can carry it without becoming unwell. The letter adds: “Please ensure your child […]
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Vaccination Update
To best protect children & teenagers at different stages of their development from preventable diseases, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released an immunization timetable to outline when and how to vaccinate these young people. New guidelines have been issued for children who had previously received the MenACWY meningitis vaccine before the age of […]
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Cases Drop
Two independent meningitis B studies were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The first study from the UK first national infant immunisation programme with Bexsero showed impact data. According to Public Health England, over a three year period the total number of meningitis B cases dropped 75%. Children who were not eligible for the […]
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New Protocol
A new law taking effect this September designed to protect New Jersey college students against meningitis outbreaks were signed by legislators. The legislation, revises the requirement for residential students in four-year institutions of higher education to receive immunization against meningococcal disease. Such immunization protocol will now follow more stringent federal guidelines laid out by the Advisory Committee on […]
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