Apr 22, 2009 10:55 pm US/Eastern
Health Dept. Warns Of Deadly Meningitis Strain
Four People Have Died - Eight Others Infected
With Early Detection It Can Be Treated With Antibiotics
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Miami-Dade's Health Department is advising the public of a disturbing strain of meningococcal disease that has killed four people in two counties in the last six months.
Wednesday afternoon the health department announced two of the deaths were Miami-Dade residents. One was 21 years old, the other was 85. The third death was a vacationing woman who died in Miami Beach. A fourth loss to the strain of disease was an adult in Broward County.
The vacationer who died was 26-year-old Jade Thomas. She was a British teacher who died at Mount Sinai hospital during her vacation over Easter Break. A Facebook page set up in honor of her memory has more than one thousand members, describing her as an inspiring teacher, aunt, and friend.
Additionally, eight other people, including a 5-year old child, have become infected in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
County health officials are very concerned, because those infected have no known connections; they don't live near each other or spend time together.
Dr. Vincent Conte of the Miami-Dade Health Department said, "Unfortunately, if it's not caught in time, and if it's a virulent strain, it can progress to serious illness and possibly death in a matter of four to six hours."
Meningitis, an infection of the coverings around the brain and spinal cord, can either be caused by a bacterial or viral infection.
Viral meningitis is fairly common and usually does not cause serious illness, prolonged fever and seizures can occur in severe cases. Bacterial meningitis, which is not as common, is very serious needs to be treated right away to prevent brain damage and death.
Miami-Dade health officials say the strain they are dealing is bacterial and can be treated with antibiotics.
Meningitis infections most often occur in children, teens, and young adults. Older adults and people with weakened immune systems are also at risk.
It can be contracted by direct close contact with discharges from the nose or throat of an infected person, but not through casual contact or breathing the same air as a person with meningitis. It can also be caught by touching an infected surface.
Symptoms of meningitis include a high fever, a headache or a stiff neck, as well as nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, confusion and sleepiness.
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