Princeton taking extraordinary steps to combat meningitis outbreak

Colleges & Universities Princeton University
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<p>A stubborn strain of meningitis is forcing Princeton and the CDC to take extraordinary measures.</p>

<p>[CDC</a> importing meningitis vaccine to fight Princeton outbreak | Fox News](<a href=“http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/11/16/cdc-importing-meningitis-vaccine-to-fight-princeton-outbreak/]CDC”>CDC importing meningitis vaccine to fight Princeton outbreak | Fox News)</p>

<p>The vaccine - Bexsero -was recently approved for use in Austrailia. <a href=“http://www.novartis.com/newsroom/media-releases/en/2013/1723151.shtml[/url]”>http://www.novartis.com/newsroom/media-releases/en/2013/1723151.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>The UK has so far denied the license, although the grounds for the denial are unclear as to the specific reasons. Additional analysis is underway. <a href=“https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/252859/JCVI_MenB_Update.pdf[/url]”>https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/252859/JCVI_MenB_Update.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Seven cases so far.</p>

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<p>Really unfortunate, sounds like Pton is set to be a large scale experiment…</p>

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<p>8th case presented Thursday. Vaccine is two doses: Dec & Feb. Another local college (Monmouth) has a case too.</p>

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<p>Has anyone died from this disease?</p>

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<p>The vaccine, Bexsero, has been approved for use in both the UK and Australia. The document referenced by stemit details the UK’s decision not to routinely vaccinate infants using Bexsero, but also states right at its start that there may be other “epidemiological circumstances” where vaccination is recommended, and Princeton’s current outbreak is a clear example of this.</p>

<p>At least for now, there have been no reported deaths from the recent meningitis cases at Princeton, but the disease has an alarmingly high rate of fatalities and complications. The Bexsero vaccine has been tested on thousands of children and adolescents with no major side effects, and the benefit in this case clearly outweighs the harm. The Daily Princetonian reported today that something like 76% of students intend to take the vaccine when it becomes available in December. As a Princeton parent, I’m very grateful that the University is taking steps to stem this outbreak.</p>

<p>Hopefully, there will be no more cases and the eight students affected will all have complete recoveries.</p>

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<p>What happened in the Ohio outbreak?</p>

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<p>One student’s meningitis experience. </p>

<p>[‘The</a> fastest, most unsettling disease’: one student’s recovery from meningitis - The Daily Princetonian](<a href=“http://dailyprincetonian.com/news/2013/11/meningitis-one-students-recovery/]'The”>http://dailyprincetonian.com/news/2013/11/meningitis-one-students-recovery/)</p>

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<p>Vaccinations begin.</p>

<p>[Almost</a> 2000 receive vaccination in first day of campaign - The Daily Princetonian](<a href=“http://dailyprincetonian.com/news/2013/12/almost-2000-receive-vaccination-in-first-day-of-campaign/]Almost”>http://dailyprincetonian.com/news/2013/12/almost-2000-receive-vaccination-in-first-day-of-campaign/)</p>