Health Alert - NYC

[bcohen7719]

Below, fyi

 

BC

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, September 27, 2012

(347) 396-4177

 

HEALTH DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATING INVASIVE MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE CASES AMONG GAY MEN AND MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN

 

Four cases of invasive meningococcal disease diagnosed in past four weeks; men experiencing high fever, headache, stiff neck and rash are advised to immediately contact their health care providers

 

September 27, 2012 – The Health Department is currently investigating a cluster of invasive meningococcal disease, commonly known as meningitis, among gay men and men who have sex with men. Invasive meningococcal disease is a severe bacterial infection that has a high fatality rate. Within the past four weeks, there have been four cases; one died and one person is in critical care.

 

The cases are spread across several boroughs and among men ages 31 to 42 years old.

The most recent four cases have all been among HIV infected men. People living with HIV are at a greater risk than the general population of acquiring invasive meningococcal disease and if infected, dying from infection. This disease is spread by prolonged close contact with nose or throat discharges from an infected person. Examples of prolonged contact include living in the same household or intimate activities, including kissing and sexual contact.

 

Common symptoms of meningitis are high fever, headache, stiff neck and rash that develop rapidly within 2 days. People that have been in prolonged close contact with infected people need to see their health care provider immediately to receive preventive antibiotics. Symptoms may occur 2 to 10 days after exposure, but usually within 5 days. People who experience symptoms should seek medical care immediately.

 

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[doitb4ugo]

Thanks for this news....I will now start researching a bit about Meningitis. I seem to remember being asked if my children had received shots for this before heading off to college but I could be thinking of something else....

 

Just goes to show...it is always something.maybe a part of safe sex in the future involves not being in the same room with at-risk people...lol

[+ Lucky]

Another scary news item for gay men.

[bigvalboy]

I had Meningitis when I was 3 years old. I was in the hospital for several months. I can still remember what seemed like almost hourly shots that I had to take. The doctors only gave me a 10% chance of survival. That of course was many moons ago, and hopefully much has been learned since then. This is nothing to take lightly.

[adriano46]

Below, fyi

 

BC

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, September 27, 2012

(347) 396-4177

 

HEALTH DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATING INVASIVE MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE CASES AMONG GAY MEN AND MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN

 

Four cases of invasive meningococcal disease diagnosed in past four weeks; men experiencing high fever, headache, stiff neck and rash are advised to immediately contact their health care providers

 

September 27, 2012 – The Health Department is currently investigating a cluster of invasive meningococcal disease, commonly known as meningitis, among gay men and men who have sex with men. Invasive meningococcal disease is a severe bacterial infection that has a high fatality rate. Within the past four weeks, there have been four cases; one died and one person is in critical care.

 

The cases are spread across several boroughs and among men ages 31 to 42 years old.

The most recent four cases have all been among HIV infected men. People living with HIV are at a greater risk than the general population of acquiring invasive meningococcal disease and if infected, dying from infection. This disease is spread by prolonged close contact with nose or throat discharges from an infected person. Examples of prolonged contact include living in the same household or intimate activities, including kissing and sexual contact.

 

Common symptoms of meningitis are high fever, headache, stiff neck and rash that develop rapidly within 2 days. People that have been in prolonged close contact with infected people need to see their health care provider immediately to receive preventive antibiotics. Symptoms may occur 2 to 10 days after exposure, but usually within 5 days. People who experience symptoms should seek medical care immediately.

 

###

 

It should be noted that this is a very generalized bulletin.

 

There are various forms of menengitis and various causes and as a survivor of this, while it is lethal and many people die from it if it is not detected early enough and (when possible) treated, if it is caught on time with a spinal tap (the only way to diagnose it) you can survive with relatively little damage.

 

A good start is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meningitis although there are more medically advanced places you can check on the internet.

[bcohen7719]

What is meant by "generalized bulletin"? Can you clarify what you mean by generalized, and generalized as opposed to what?

 

The Wikipedia entry looks magnificent and the link is appreciated. But it is tough (for me!) to take all that information and analyze what that all means in specific relationship to the NYC Health Alert. Can you help out on this?

 

Best wishes,

 

BC

[gallahadesquire]

What is meant by "generalized bulletin"? Can you clarify what you mean by generalized, and generalized as opposed to what?

 

The Wikipedia entry looks magnificent and the link is appreciated. But it is tough (for me!) to take all that information and analyze what that all means in specific relationship to the NYC Health Alert. Can you help out on this?

 

Best wishes,

 

BC

 

http://council.nyc.gov/html/home/PDFs/menin.pdf

[rickp]

I'm pretty sure there's a vaccine for Meningitis; anyone who's really studied at a university probably already has the vaccine. Otherwise, it's easy to get at your next doctor's visit.

[+ nycman]

It should be noted that this is a very generalized bulletin.

 

There are various forms of meningitis and various causes...

 

True and true.....but I think this bulletin is more specific than you realize.

 

They are talking about "invasive meningococcal disease"...which is a very specific type

of meningitis caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis (also termed Meningococcus).

 

Yes, there is a vaccine for Meningococcus that is currently given to most infants and college students.

 

If it's not caught and treated early (we're talking hours not days) it is extremely deadly.

 

Even those treated early and aggressively often die within hours.

 

If you want more info on the vaccine:

 

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-mening.pdf

[bcohen7719]

Adrian/Gallahad/NYCMan/everyone: I wrote to the press official at the NYC Health Department who posted this bulletin. I summarized everyone's excellent points, questions, and queries. If she answers, I'll copy & paste on this forum.

 

BC

[MsGuy]

If she answers, I'll copy & paste on this forum.

 

BC, my grandfather would have said, "There's a boy with a good head on his shoulders."