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Meningococcal Information
What is meningococcal disease? It is a rare but potentially fatal bacterial infection. The disease is expressed as either meningococcal meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, or meningococcemia, the presence of bacteria in the blood. The disease strikes about 3,000 Americans each year. What causes the meningococcal disease? It is caused be the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, a leading cause of meningitis and septicemia (blood poisoning) in the United States. Meningitis is one of the most common manifestations of the disease, although it has been known to cause se tic arthritis, pneumonia, brain inflammation and other syndromes. How many people die from meningococcal disease each year? 3,000 Americans each year are affected and approximately 300 deaths occur each year. How is meningococcal disease spread? This disease is transmitted through the air via droplets of respiratory secretions and direct contact with the infected person. Direct contact is defined as oral contact with shared items such as eating utensils, lipstick, cigarettes, mouthpieces (athletic or musical), drinking glasses or through intimate contact such as kissing. What are the symptoms? The early symptoms usually associated with meningococcal disease include high fever and chills, severe headache, stiff neck and stiff back, pain in arms, legs, and abdomen, a red blotchy rash, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, and change in consciousness. Symptoms may resemble the flu. Because the disease progresses rapidly, often in as little as 12 hours, students are urged to seek medical care immediately if they experience a combination of symptoms, and/or any worsening illnesses accompanied by fever. Who is at risk? Anyone can come in contact with the bacteria that causes meningococcal disease. Data indicates certain social behaviors, such as exposure to passive and active smoking, bar patronage, and excessive alcohol consumption, may put students at increased risk for the disease. People with compromised immunity, those in close contact to a known case and travelers to endemic areas of the world are also at increased risk. Cases and outbreaks usually occur in the late winter and early spring when school is in session. Recent evidence found students residing on campus in dormitories appear to be at higher risk for meningococcal disease than college students overall. Further research recently released by the CDC shows freshmen living in dormitories have a six times higher risk of meningococcal disease than college students overall. Is one type of serogroup of meningococcal disease more common in college students? Recent evidence shows the epidemiology of meningococcal disease is changing with a majority of cases (65 percent) in the college age group caused by serotype A, C, Y, or W-135, which are all vaccine-preventable. What is ACHA's recommendation of meningococcal disease? The American College Health Association (ACHA) an association of college health professionals, recommends that college students consider vaccination to reduce their risk for potentially fatal meningococcal disease, and that college health care providers take a proactive role in providing information and access to the meningococcal vaccine. Dordt College is following this advice by providing this information to all students and their families. Dordt College encourages you to discuss your options for obtaining the vaccine with your family physician. Why should college students consider preventative vaccination with the meningococcal vaccine? Data suggest that sub populations of college students are at increased risk for meningococcal disease. Pre-exposure vaccination enhances immunity for four strains of meningococcus that cause 65-70 percent of invasive disease and therefore reduces a student's risk for disease. Development of immunity takes seven to ten days, after the injection. Who should consider vaccination for meningococcal disease?
How effective is the vaccine? The meningococcal vaccine has been shown to provide protection against the most common strains of the disease, including serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135. The vaccine has been shown to be 85 to 100 percent effective in serogroups A and C in older children and adults. Is the vaccine safe and are there adverse side effects to the vaccine? The vaccine is very safe and adverse reactions are mild and infrequent, consisting primarily of redness and pain at the site of the injection lasting up to two days. What is the duration of the protection? The duration of the meningococcal vaccine's efficacy is approximately three to five years. For more information, contact your personal physician and discuss your options. |
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