Outbreak in the State of San Diego: second student in the fall semester diagnosed with meningitis

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – An outbreak was declared at San Diego State University after another student was diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis and hospitalized.

The San Diego County Department of Public Health announced a student with meningitis symptoms on September 25, and tests confirmed that the student's disease was caused by meningococcal serogroup B.

In early September, a student was diagnosed with the same illness and had to be hospitalized for treatment.

County health officials also reported a third case of meningococcal meningitis involving a student diagnosed in June. The student in this case "did not go to school and lived off campus". The case had not been announced before because there was no risk to public health at the time.

School officials said the county health authorities had determined that the three cases that occurred at school in three and a half months were an epidemic.

According to health officials, bacterial meningitis is spread through sneezed respiratory secretions or coughing.

The first symptoms of meningitis include high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, rash, nausea, vomiting and lethargy.

Doctors say the symptoms may be similar to those of the flu. Diagnosis and treatment are essential for healing as the disease can progress in just 12 hours.

SDSU officials said, "SDSU is continuing its partnership with county public health officials to monitor the outbreak. While SDSU has been actively involved in an awareness campaign of the campus community this fall on preventative vaccines and healthy habits, we continue to develop these prevention tools.

The San Diego County Public Health Department recommends that all under-24 non-meningococcal B (MenB) students be strongly encouraged to be vaccinated with one of two meningococcal B vaccines available. .

Dr. Wilma Wooten, County Public Health Officer, said, "While most students on the SDSU campus have been vaccinated with quadrivalent meningococcal vaccines, many have not received the serogroup B vaccine needed for meningococcal quadrivalent vaccines. protect. recent diseases. Meningococcal disease can be serious and deadly. So we want everyone to be alert to the symptoms and seek care if they happen. "