Separate outbreaks of meningococcal disease at two college campuses have the CDC warning clinicians to be alerted to possible disease outbreaks among contacts as college students start traveling home for the holidays.
At Princeton University, eight cases of serogroup B meningococcal disease have been reported in the past 8 months. In addition, three undergraduate students at the University of California in Santa Barbara became ill with the disease in November. The outbreaks are caused by two distinct strains.
CDC officials advise that meningococcal disease should be suspected when a fever and headache or rash develops in a person affiliated with one of those universities or in a person with close contact with someone from the universities.
A serogroup B vaccine -- licensed for use abroad -- is being offered at Princeton. The currently approved U.S. meningococcal vaccine does not cover serogroup B.
Bottom Line:
Fever and headache or rash in those with close contacts from the affected universities should be considered for rapid, empiric meningococcal treatment.
University of Maryland Section of Global Emergency Health
Author: Emilie J.B. Calvello, MD, MPH
References
CDC Health Alert Network, Nov. 27, 2013 http://emergency.cdc.gov/HAN/han00357.asp
