A Rare Re-emergence

In recent news, Princeton University has been making headlines, but not because of their brilliant students. Yesterday, ABC news reported the Ivy League university has been faced with the re-emergence of Meningitis B. Since March, seven cases have been diagnosed, a majority of these being students. There has been debate among the FDA, the nation and the school on whether to import the vaccine, Bexsero, into the United States, but after much deliberation, the FDA has approved the importation. The vaccine is approved in Europe and Australia, but not yet in the United States. Bexsero is the only vaccine used for the type B strain. Bacterial meningitis is pretty rare, but the B strain is seen frequently in the United States and Europe. One in ten die and one in five suffer permanent disability. New Jersey mandates those living in college dorms to receive the vaccine against the other strains of meningitis, but type B has a separate vaccination, which is why many are not aware. College campuses provide a perfect breeding ground for the bacteria and officials are urging students to not have close contact, drink from each other, share items, but to wash hands and cover their mouths. Symptoms can quickly develop and meningitis can be fatal! The major symptom attributed to meningitis is a stiff neck. Among the students interviewed, many seemed willing to consider the vaccine. From an epidemiologist standpoint, I would be interested in figuring out how the disease was transmitted among those infected individuals and why hasn't the U.S. approved this vaccine yet? I believe the United States needs to always be prepared for the re-emergence of once rare, or even eradicated diseases and have the necessary vaccines, prevention strategies and treatment to be as success as possible in all their efforts to eliminate the spread.

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/princeton-university-considers-meningitis-vaccine-20921420