<p>Three confirmed cases … </p>
<p>[Third</a> meningitis case confirmed among students at UC Santa Barbara - latimes.com](<a href=“Third meningitis case confirmed among students at UC Santa Barbara”>Third meningitis case confirmed among students at UC Santa Barbara)</p>
<p>And SB so far from Princeton…</p>
<p>Different strains it seems like. Completely unrelated. </p>
<p>Get your shots, people! (No, I don’t know if this person was vaccinated, but it’s a general reminder)</p>
<p>It is the same “B” strain that caused the outbreak at Princeton. Current US vaccines do not protect against this strain:</p>
<p>[email</a> : Webview : "Urgent, Please Read, Public Health Notice 11/21](<a href=“http://e2.ma/message/69uwg/mi490g]email”>http://e2.ma/message/69uwg/mi490g)</p>
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<p>Coincidentally, new UC president Janet Napolitano toured the campus today. Perhaps she can advise with regard to infectious disease outbreaks given her former position in Homeland Security.</p>
<p>Princeton has started offering the vaccine to students for this strain (B), which is approved in (I believe) Europe and Australia and is currently going through the approval process in the US. Hopefully we will soon have a new way to get a handle on this.
And yes, get vaccinated!</p>
<p>Also a campus employee at Monmouth University (NJ) has also contracted meningitis. THey are not clear on what strain it is.
[Meningitis</a> case reported at Monmouth University | NJ.com](<a href=“http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/11/meningitis_case_reported_at_monmouth_university.html]Meningitis”>Meningitis case reported at Monmouth University - nj.com)</p>
<p>Georgia Tech suspected case as well.</p>
<p>"And yes, get vaccinated! "</p>
<p>Why un-approved vaccine? I won’t put myself or my kids at risk of using medicine that is not approved by FDA. </p>
<p>Remember thalidomide? It was approved in Europe and resulted in terrible side effects. Thanks to FDA in never entered USA.</p>
<p>Can’t they have guts to find the origin? Who brought this strain of meningitis to United Sates? Where did they travel? How the outbreak initiated?</p>
<p>Guts to find the origin? You should read up about meningitis - people can be carriers without getting the disease. Without testing entire populations there is no way to find out who your suspects even are. Given that there appear to be multiple outbreaks now it’s likely that there are many, many, many carriers walking around the US now.</p>
<p>My son is at GT and they have 1 case there. I wish there was a vaccine because I would have him get it. I wouldn’t be surprised if it spread just like in the movies by people on a airplane on vacation.</p>
<p>Heard about the GT case yesterday. This article says 4 universities have had incidents of meningococcal meningitis, the 4th case being an employee at Monmouth University.</p>
<p>[Four</a> Universities Report Meningitis Cases, Highlighting Why College Campuses Are Breeding Grounds For The Deadly Disease](<a href=“http://www.medicaldaily.com/four-universities-report-meningitis-cases-highlighting-why-college-campuses-are-breeding-grounds]Four”>Four Universities Report Meningitis Cases, Highlighting Why College Campuses Are Breeding Grounds For The Deadly Disease)</p>
<p><em>Unofficial rumor</em> UCSB investigating 4th case. First victim has had feet amputated and is fighting for his life. This is a horrible disease and I’d bet most people would take their chances with the new vaccine if it provides any protection at all.</p>
<p>Yes, extremely scary, especially as not much in the way of prevention and treatment! Yikes!</p>
<p>That’s awful, momsquad.
I’d guess that the CDC is involved pretty closely.</p>
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<p>Thanks to one brave woman–Frances Oldham Kelsey.</p>
<p>However, reality was that thalidomide was a mild sedative used to prevent nausea (morning sickness) in pregnant women. It was sold over the county in Germany. There are MANY other drugs that were approved by the FDA and for most women morning sickness isn’t life threatening.</p>
<p>Here that’s not the case. Meningitis IS life threatening and there is no approved vaccination for this strain. Very, very different circumstances. IMO, it’s worth making an exception to the normal rules in such circumstances.</p>
<p>My Auburn freshman had the meningitis vaccine when his older brother headed off to college 8 years ago. The pediatrician gave them both the vaccine - said it wouldn’t hurt the little guy. My Auburn freshman had a booster before he left for band camp this summer and his older brother who is now back in school after dropping out will be going to get a booster soon. The newer vaccine was used as a booster and is supposed to be much better than the earlier version. If either is exposed, I hope it won’t be to the “B” strain and their immunizations will kick in. </p>
<p>MichiganGeorgia - do you know what strain the GT version is?</p>
<p>threeofthree ,</p>
<p>If I understand it correctly, it’s a different meningitis. Existing US vaccine doesn’t protect against it.</p>
<p>My friend’s d lives in the same house as the girl at GT with bacterial meningitis. The girls have been prescribed prophylactic antibiotics and given instructions on symptoms to look out for. Hoping this is an isolated case.</p>
<p>[GT</a> | News Center :: Meningitis Symptoms Hospitalize Tech Undergraduate](<a href=“http://www.news.gatech.edu/2013/11/20/meningitis-symptoms-hospitalize-tech-undergraduate]GT”>Meningitis Symptoms Hospitalize Tech Undergraduate | News Center)</p>
<p>This is making me nervous… I emailed D1 (college freshman last night at a school that has not had any cases) and reminded her not to “casually swap spit” with other students. To not share cups, eating utensils, bites of sandwiches, etc. Plus, I figure she also does not need a case of mono (more likely result anyway).</p>