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American Morning

Mass Meningitis Inoculations in Ohio

Aired June 08, 2001 - 10:26   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: Back here in this country, authorities in California are trying to determine how the meningitis bacteria wound up in cortisone shots given to patients at a local clinic. Health officials say 20 people received injections late last month at the clinic in Walnut Creek. At least one person has died and three others were infected with the non-contagious form of meningitis. Authorities are now looking at a Walnut Creek pharmacy as a possible source of the contamination.

In Ohio, officials are dealing with a contagious meningitis- related disease. Health officials there have set up makeshift clinics for a mass inoculation against the illness.

Our medical news correspondent Elizabeth Cohen joins us now from Ohio, in Beloit, Ohio. She's got the latest for us -- Elizabeth?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, students began lining up here at West Branch High School about two hours before the doors opened to get their vaccines. Now, this is the high school where the two students died of meningitis. They're planning on vaccinating about 1,400 students here and about 4,500 students at other area high schools. It's a well oiled machine. The students are in and out in no time.

Now, at this school in particular, these vaccines really represent something more than just medical treatment to the students. These students, many of them say they've been shunned. They've been asked to not come to parties. They've been asked to leave work. All in the fear that they could spread meningitis by that kind of social contact, which public health experts have said over and over again cannot happen.

Now, the students are dealing with this at the same time that they're dealing with the sadness and pain of losing two of their classmates, Kelly Coblentz and Jonathan Stauffer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED STUDENT: I just hope it puts everything to rest and people can move on. Because today would have been John's birthday and I think it's the best gift we can give him is to let him know that we are not going to go through what he went through.

UNIDENTIFIED STUDENT: I was kind of shocked when he died. But I know where he's at right now. He's with god in heaven so it's comfort.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COHEN: In addition to the two students who died, there's a third student from another school who's still in the hospital. She nearly lost her life but she's doing much better now. They moved her out of intensive care and she's now in stable condition -- Leon?

HARRIS: Well, Elizabeth, the inoculation process that's pretty much taken care of now, do they think that this whole crisis is over or they're near the end of it, at least, there?

COHEN: Yes. We just talked to an infectious disease expert here and he said that he really does think it's the end. He doesn't expect any more cases because they closed the schools right after the students died and then they moved on to give students antibiotics. Now they've moved on to vaccinations. So he thinks that this is it.

HARRIS: All right, good deal. Thanks, much. That's encouraging news there. Elizabeth Cohen reporting live this morning.

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