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Meningococcal Disease Suspected, but There is No Outbreak: Official

Posted on: Friday, 12 May 2006, 09:07 CDT

By James Gilbert, The Sun, Yuma, Ariz.

May 12--Yuma County officials on Wednesday assured the public there is no meningococcal outbreak, despite a suspected case that led to the death of a child.

"This is a low risk for the general public," said county Health Department Director Becky Brooks said at a news conference. "We don't want people to be afraid, This isn't something you see every day. This was extremely rare."

County Administrator David Garcia confirmed that a child had been admitted to Yuma Regional Medical Center Tuesday night and treated for symptoms of meningococcal disease, only to die about three hours later.

"It can be a catastrophic illness," said Dr. Stewart Hamilton, vice president of Medical Affairs at YRMC. "The progression can be rather rapid. It was recognized almost the moment the person was admitted."

County officials, citing federal privacy laws, declined to name the child, identify the gender or say how old the child was.

Even though meningococcal disease can be transmitted by close person-to-person contact, Stewart and Garcia both said it it is very difficult to contract.

A bacterial disease with flu-like symptoms, meningococcal disease is a form of blood poisoning spread through droplets of throat or respiratory secretions and can sometimes be fatal.

"Often, many people who may have the infection never become very ill," Stewart said.

Garcia said while county and health officials have concluded that meningococcal disease is the primary cause of the child's death, they won't have confirmation until Thursday.

The county took immediate action Wednesday morning once it was informed about the suspected case, Garcia said, meeting with its disease control staff, state health officials, epidemiologists and hospital personnel.

"Our primary concern was to identify the people who had come in contact with the patient in such a way they could have contracted the disease," Garcia said.

While it isn't known how the patient contracted meningococcal disease, Garcia stated the people in closest contact with the child, such as the family, have been notified and were provided medication in order to prevent any additional cases.

Garcia said while the county considers this an isolated case, it has established a hot line for people to call to get more information about meningococcal disease.

The hot line -- 373-1025 -- is being operated by nurses and was available until about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday night. Callers will hear a recorded message with information about the disease after that time. Garcia said the hot line would continue for the next few days, based on the number of calls made to it and that the county would continue to try and contact other people who may have come in contact with the child.

Ulrich Fischer, whose 4-year-old son was in the same child-care program as the child who died, attended the press conference about being contacted by the county.

Fischer, who was worried his son might have been exposed, said he came to the press conference because he wanted to find out more about the disease's incubation period, which is up to 10 days.

"I'm relieved," Fischer said. "The last contact with my son was about three weeks ago, so it's not a problem."

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Sun, Yuma, Ariz.

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Source: The Sun (Yuma, Ariz.)

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