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July 24, 2002

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Australians Quarantined After Rome Meningitis Death"

Reuters (www.reuters.com) (07/22/02)

Following the death of a 25-year-old Australian in Venice, Italy, due to a rare form of meningitis, a group of 47 other Australians who were traveling with the man were quarantined and medicated against infection.  Murray Cobban, Australia's ambassador to Italy, asserts that the risk to the tourists is low and the isolation is precautionary.  The tour was supposed to take the group to London, France, Monaco, Italy, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that meningococcal disease affects between 0.5 and five people per 100,000, and it may cause death in 10 percent to 15 percent of cases.

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