The Dec. 24 issue of Common Ground noted an outbreak of serogroup B meningococcal disease in an Oregon State University student. An important update: Two doses of Men B vaccine are now required in ALL students 25 and under to be completed by Feb. 15, 2018. At the time the original story was published, this was required of only incoming students.
We will continue this requirement until we’ve had no cases for one year, so requirements will continue at least through fall term, 2018. It’s also important to remember that although we accept either vaccine during an outbreak, the CDC recommends Bexsero because full immunization occurs after one month, vs. Trumenba, which takes six months.
We continue to ask health care providers to consider vaccination of undergraduate OSU students under the age of 25 urgent. Health care providers are also asked to consider meningococcal disease in their differential diagnosis for college students — particularly students with links to OSU — presenting with unexplained high fever, headache, stiff neck or rash. Please report any suspected cases to your local public health department.
If you have any additional questions, please see the Oregon Health Authority investigative guidelines or call Tasha Poissant or Richard Leman in OHA’s Acute and Communicable Disease Prevention Section at 971.673.1111. Information about Meningococcal disease can be found at:
Oregon Health Authority: www.healthoregon.org/mening
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/index.html