Ventura County Public Health officials are issuing a call for health care providers to vaccinate potentially high risk individuals against invasive meningococcal disease, a potentially dangerous bacteria that’s surfaced in two Southern California Counties.
Since March, 25 cases of IMD have surfaced in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, with 18 meeting the case definition. One death has been reported.
Dr. Robert Levin, Ventura County’s Health Officer, and Medical Director says the bacterial infection is treatable, if caught early. But, it moves fast, and cause serious damage or even death.
So, who’s at risk? Southern California health officials initially noticed a higher than average incidence of IMD among men who were HIV positive, men with multiple male sexual partners, and men who shared things with saliva on them, like cigarettes and marijuana. But, Levin says the warning for who should get vaccinated is being broadened to include all men who have sex with males, including transsexuals and transvestites.
No cases have been reported in Ventura County, but Levin says they’re trying to get potentially at-risk people vaccinated before it becomes an issue in the region. Levin says there are a number of variations in the bacteria, but a simple shot will protect people against all of the types which have surfaced in Southern California in the last few months.
Ventura County provides low cost, or in some case free immunizations for IMD at its two Oxnard clinics, as well as at clinics in Ventura and Santa Paula.
