“Despite small numbers…..”  - SM

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“Gay Men Warned of Meningitis Outbreak”

Toronto Star (www.thestar.com) (07/17/01) P. B4; DeMara, Bruce

Canadian health officials are urging the implementation of a immunization campaign against meningitis for gay men.  “What we have seen is a noticeable increase, despite small numbers ... of cases of meningococcal disease in young, adult men who typically have sex with men,” explained Toronto’s medical officer, Dr.  Sheela Basrur.  The number of cases in Toronto has risen to 22 this year—the most recent outbreak killing two men and infecting three others.  Basrur said an immunization campaign of this type would be the first to target this particular sector of the population.  In fact, this meningitis outbreak is so unusual that even the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has no record of similar increases in this group.  The city plans to obtain 3,000 vaccine doses of the 5,000 stocked by the province and begin targeting the gay community as soon as approval is obtained.

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