xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> “Local Meningococcal Outbreak Has Medical Officials Puzzled”

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February 25, 2002

 

 

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

“Local Meningococcal Outbreak Has Medical Officials Puzzled” Edmonton Journal (www.edmontonjournal.com) (02/24/02) P. A9;

Ohler, Shawn

In Canada, Edmonton health officials are baffled as to why the region continues to experience meningococcal meningitis at such a high rate, even after conducting aggressive vaccination campaigns over the past two years.  Since December, there have been eight new cases, including one in a 19-year-old that resulted in death; the Edmonton meningococcus strain is responsible for 60 to 85 meningococcus cases since December 1999, officials said.  The Edmonton strain is genetically unique from the strains that broke out in Quebec and Ontario during the past decade, but what puzzles experts is how this particular strain’s genetic makeup translates into how the bacterium operates.  There is speculation the Edmonton strain is able to alter its bacterium surface sufficiently enough to go unrecognized by the immune system, or perhaps it creates a new cellular substance that enables the infection to creep more stealthily into the nose and throat lining.  Dr. Gerry Predy, Capital Health’s medical officer of health, noted that while current vaccines are about 85 percent to 90 percent as effective against the Edmonton strain, health officials are finding it difficult to persuade healthy young adults to get vaccinated, despite the quick onset and potential deadliness of the disease.

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