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American Morning

State Officials Vaccinate Students Against Meningitis in Ohio

Aired June 06, 2001 - 09:37   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: In health news now, just to update you on that meningitis scare in Ohio. Beginning Friday, state health officials there plan to vaccinate thousands of high school students in and around Alliance, Ohio. This comes after two teenagers died of a bacterial infection that can cause meningitis. Over the weekend, thousands of people who live in Alliance lined up for preventive antibiotics. The vaccination shots will protect those who get them from bacterial meningitis for three to five years.

Joining us now to tell us some more about meningitis is our medical news correspondent Rhonda Rowland.

RHONDA ROWLAND, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning. And what you see here is not really that unusual, Leon. Several communities across the country every year will have a situation like this where there will be an outbreak of meningitis. Typically, health officials will give antibiotics to people closest to the victims, friends, relatives, perhaps roommates.

But then if it seems that it's circulating in the community, they will then give out the vaccine, and this will protect people in about 85 percent of cases. And the idea of the vaccine, of course, is to prevent more cases.

HARRIS: So, this is not a case of overkill by vaccinating everyone around?

ROWLAND: It really isn't. In fact, earlier this year, we heard that the same thing happened in suburbs around Houston. They had some outbreaks and they went ahead and they vaccinated a number of people.

HARRIS: Tell us, how is this bacteria spread? Is it spread through the air, thought coughing contact?

ROWLAND: You've got it, droplets in the air; someone coughs, if they sneeze, share drinks, utensils, kissing and it also seems to be more prevalent on college campuses because people live in close proximity. So, it's hard to tell who will get it because it's spread through droplets in the air.

HARRIS: Now, when you get it, if you do get it, is it always deadly?

ROWLAND: In about 10 to 20 percent of the cases, it is deadly, and in another 10 percent of cases, people with end up with long-term disability like limb amputation. So, it can be very serious. So, if you have the symptoms: high fever, stiff neck, headache, you need to get medical attention immediately. If you waste several hours of time, that could make the difference between life and death. So, it can be very serious.

HARRIS: You say this vaccine last three to five years.

ROWLAND: Three to five years, that's right.

HARRIS: All right, Rhonda Rowland. Thanks very much we appreciate the information. We'll stay on top of that story about the outbreak in Alliance, Ohio.

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