Meningitis scare drains vaccine supply

The vaccination department at University Health Services has been unusually busy this week due to a sudden concern with Meningococcal Meningitis, a contagious and deadly infectious disease.

After the ABC news magazine 20/20 aired a special on the disease, UHS became bombarded by phone calls and visits by students wanting vaccinations.

"We received a number of phone calls as a result of the story and earlier this week we ran out of a supply of the vaccine and had to reorder," said University Health Services interim Director Robert Winfield, a medical doctor.

"There has not been an outbreak of the disease on this campus. There has been an anxiety break," Winfield said. "People are very scared, but there is no reason to be frightened."

The television news magazine focused on the susceptibility of college students contracting the disease. It cited a recent issue of "Clinical Infectious Diseases" which said college students who live in residence halls are eight to 22 times more likely to contract the disease than students who live in other housing arrangements.

Although Winfield said there is no reason for alarm, LSA sophomore Jennifer Gold said she decided to get the vaccine after watching the 20/20 special.

"I watched it Friday night and I realized how susceptible college students are to this disease," Gold said. "I heard that UHS was booked this week but they will be available next week to give the vaccine."

The vaccine, called polysaccharide meningococcal, is recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for controlling outbreaks, but is not recommended for routine vaccinations to control sporadic cases.

Winfield said CDC does not require routine vaccinations because the vaccination does not prevent against all strains of the disease and is very costly. Meningitis outbreaks occur too infrequently for a mandatory vaccination, he said.

"The incidents of meningitis is very, very low and the cost is quite high," Winfield said. The University has not reported any cases of meningitis since Oct. 1995. But during the 1998-1999 academic year, 83 cases were reported on college campuses nationwide - six of those cases were fatal.

Meningococcal meningitis is a bacteria that causes an inflammation of the linings of the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include sudden severe weakness and/or lightheadedness, fever, headache, stiff neck and rashes.

The disease is rare, striking one out of 100,000 people in the United States annually. About 600 cases are reported among 15- to 25-year-olds annually in the United States. Despite receiving antibiotics early, 10 to 13 percent of patients die. Some of those who survive suffer from mental retardation, hearing loss and loss of limbs.

The disease can be spread through kissing, sharing eating utensils and glasses, coughing, sneezing and sharing tobacco or marijuana cigarettes. Roommates, friends, spouses and children who have had close contact with a person diagnosed with the disease should be treated immediately with antibiotics.

Washtenaw County Public Health nurse supervisor Jane Worthy-Howlett said college students and their parents should be aware of the disease and how to prevent it.

"College students need to make sure they maintain good hygiene," said Worthy-Howlett, a member of the county's communicable disease unit. "They must remember the basics - washing hands frequently, covering their mouths and making sure they get enough rest. College life is not always good for the immune system."

The vaccination costs $82 now at UHS, but the price will rise to $85 on Oct. 1. The vaccine is also only effective for 3 to 4 years.

09-24-99