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Halifax University cases
Nova Scotia Public health officials are investigating the two cases of meningococcal meningitis from Dalhousie University in Halifax after one student died and another was recovering in hospital. The students lived in the same Shirreff Hall residence and confirmed both had the same strain of the bacteria called serogroup B, although there’s currently no known […]
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Death after Music Festival
18-year-old Ally Behan from Manyana on NSW’s South Coast, Australia died of meningococcal disease after attending the popular ‘Spilt Milk’ music festival. She first experienced gastro-like symptoms, couldn’t stop vomiting then lost movement in her legs. Ally was taken to Canberra Hospital where she was put on life supports but her condition worsened and died. […]
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New Plymouth cases
Two under five years old cases of meningococcal disease have been reported in New Plymouth, New Zealand. The national public health service medical officer of health for Taranaki Dr Neil de Wet, stated, “The cases were identified early, received fast, effective treatment and made rapid recoveries”. He also emphasized that if you have been seen […]
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Get Vaccinated!
The Brazilian Society of Immunization (SBIM) and the Society of Pediatrics (SBP) recommends the use of meningococcal conjugate ACWY vaccine especially for children two months, adolescents., adults, especially the elderly and travelers to areas with an increased risk of contracting the disease. It is also recommended to take the meningococcal B vaccine which may be […]
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Vaccination Alert
Teygan, 19 years old when he went to Manchester University to study Russian. He was excited to go because he will be the first one to go to a university, being middle child of three. He made friends in his halls, kept communications open with his family, settling into student life & coping with his […]
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French Outbreak
Around 500 cases of Invasive Meningococcal Disease are diagnosed each year in France and usually presents as meningitis or septicemia. Meningococcus is frequently carried in the pharynx, and 5% to 10% of the overall population are carriers at any one time. A vaccination campaign was launched to provide individual protection, to stop the spread of […]
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Listen to your Gut!
Blake, a 13-month-old had been sick with colds and other bugs on and off since starting daycare. His mother, a nurse, thought it was just a normal little bug because Blake would get over one thing and then start another. Then she noticed him holding his head funny and she realized neck stiffness is one […]
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At Risk
Gerard Rushton, The Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand spokesperson, lost their 16-year-old daughter Courtenay to meningococcal disease in 2014. He is urging university students and other members of the public in Dunedin to seek medical attention urgently if they are showing any signs of the deadly disease especially after a case of meningococcal disease was […]
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Youth Dies
The Department of Public Health Mid-West is investigating a ‘single case of confirmed meningococcal disease in Limerick’. Following the death of the youth, close contacts are offered prophylactic treatment. People are encouraged to recognize the signs and symptoms including but not limited to severe headaches, fever, vomiting, drowsiness, discomfort from bright light, neck stiffness and […]
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Herd Immunity
Researchers from the University of Oxford reported findings from a large-scale study that examined the impact of the UK’s MenACWY vaccination program on the carriage of meningitis bacteria in the throats of UK teenagers. They demonstrated that by immunizing teenagers with MenACWY vaccines not only protect them directly, but also reduce the risk of others […]
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