Meningitis Vaccinations Recommended For College Students
August 15, 2007
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is recommending that college students who are going to live in a dormitory or another group setting, like a fraternity or sorority, get vaccinated to prevent meningococcal meningitis.
Meningococcal meningitis infections are not common – only 1,400 to 2,800 cases occur in the U.S. annually. However, ten percent of teens who get meningitis die from it, and another 15 percent have long-term disability, including neurological damage.
“Meningococcal meningitis is a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection that can lead to swelling of the brain and spinal cord or to a bloodstream infection,” said Dr. Joann Schaefer, the state’s chief medical officer and director of public health. “Vaccination can reduce or eliminate the risk of contracting the disease.”
The disease can affect people at any age but 30 percent of illnesses occur in adolescents and young adults.
Those who live in dormitories or residence halls are more likely to contract the infection because of crowded living conditions. The bacteria are spread person-to-person through the air by coughing and sneezing. The disease can also be transmitted through direct contact with an infected person, through sharing utensils or through kissing.
Symptoms appear suddenly and may include fever, intense headache, sensitivity to light, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting.
Most colleges and universities require vaccination for those who will be living in dormitories, said Barbara Ludwig, DHHS Immunization Program Manager.
Students should check with their educational institution about meningococcal meningitis vaccination and other vaccinations that might be required. Schools are required to notify students about the risk of the disease.
Other vaccines that are recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine and the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine that protects against the most common causes of cervical cancer.
For more information visit the CDC website.
Would you make sure to get a vaccination?
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| Date | Subject | Posted by: |
|---|---|---|
| 08/16/2007 | Yikes!! Where have they been. I've... | jay |
| 08/16/2007 | Please educate yourselves about this... | Gail F. Bailey |
