Meningitis "Epidemic" Update

Friday, June 18, 2010

Fort Collins has achieved national notoriety with our meningitis outbreak. As most everyone knows the area has had three confirmed cases of individuals infected with bacterial meningitis due to the bacterial Neisseria meningococcus. Although a very serious communicable disease with a very definite risk of death, it is fortunately one that requires close contact with an infected person to be a real risk to us and most people who come in contact with the organism do not develop symptoms. Happily it is a disease for which there is a vaccination and many of our adolescents have been immunized against this bacteria and should be protected from getting the disease.

It does appear that the source of contact for this outbreak happened during or after an EPIC hockey game on June 12th. People who were in close contact with infected individuals should receive prophylactic antibiotics to prevent "seeding" with this bacteria. All other individuals in the community need only be vigilant for symptoms of illness which can include severe headache, fever, purplish rash and lethargy. We will be happy to see anyone who has concerns and are open on the weekend. If you would like your 11 year old and older to receive the meningitis immunization please call to make an appointment with the "shot nurse" on Tuesday or Wednesday.


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