United States: The Health Department of Virginia (VDH) has warned the healthcare facilitators and the residents of the area to be alerted about the recent outbreak of meningococcal disease in Virginia, prevailing since 2022.
In the first report by Northern Virginia, there has been a new case came to light that killed Reston infected man in February, as confirmed by VDH.
What did the VDH report say?
VDH reported a total of 32 cases of meningococcal disease in the time span of November 2022 – February 6, 2024, with six of those being fatal.
VDH found the same, that the common factor that could be the cause of the death of the disease is yet to be identified. They also used genetic sequencing and confirmed the cases to be highly genetically related as reported by Fox5dc.com.
The Northern Virginia Magazine said that the Reston man had died while playing a tennis match just before his death, and his death happened “shockingly fast” as per his family.
According to the reports, he had suffered problem breathing and was consequently rushed to hospital that evening.
Dr. Christina Johns, Senior Medical Advisor with PM Pediatrics said, “This is a bad actor. We are trained to run, not walk when we think that there is a case of meningococcemia in any care setting that we’re involved in,” as reported by Fox5dc.com.
Furthermore, the Vaccine-Preventable Disease Coordinator with the Virginia Department of Health, Meredith Robinson said, “Our most important priority is protection against illness.”
Vaccination for meningococcal disease
Available is a vaccine for a meningococcal disease. The doctors have been telling the public to be immunized especially children (11 and 12 years of age) due to the exposure risk to this group of individuals.
In addition, health officers advised all those above 16 years, who haven’t been boosted, to get one.
About the Meningococcal disease
Meningococcal disease is spread via these respiratory and throat droplets (secretions contain pathogens).
As per the VDH, there are various methods through which bacteria can be spread, including – direct coughing or sneezing on the other’s face, kissing, sharing water bottles, cups, eating utensils, lipstick, cigarettes, or toothbrushes.
Additionally, the health department said that the disease is less likely to spread through casual contact such as by breathing air around a person who has already been contracted with the disease in the past, as Fox5dc.com reports.
Symptoms of the disease
It is reported that the symptoms of the disease are flu-like, which has made it severe.
Furthermore, according to the VDH data on its website, when people contract the disease, they do not immediately fall ill.
Moreover, a small portion of the infected develop serious forms of illnesses like – meningitis which is a form of disease in which inflammation of the brain lining is involved.