Tri- County Health Advisory

Since May 30th, four cases of laboratory-confirmed serogroup C meningococcal disease, including two deaths, have been reported in Larimer County, Colorado. One of the cases is a Colorado State University (CSU) student and the other three (including the two fatal cases) are hockey players in the same division of a Fort Collins adult hockey league. An unrelated case of serogroup B meningococcal disease was also reported from Larimer County during this time period. 

PFGE (pulsed field gel electrophoresis), or DNA fingerprinting of bacteria from the three hockey players shows that they match the bacteria from the CSU student and a Denver metro area college student who became ill and died in April. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be doing further testing to compare this strain to others in the U.S. and other parts of the world. 

The local health department (Larimer County Department of Health and Environment) has provided prophylaxis for close contacts of the cases and has recommended vaccination for hockey players. 

Health-care providers should be aware that the increased attention on meningococcal disease may lead to a greater demand for meningococcal vaccine.  

CSU students, particularly freshmen living in residence halls, are encouraged to get the meningococcal vaccine. Other at-risk groups (defined below) should also consider getting the vaccine.  

Groups for whom the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended routine vaccination against meningococcal disease include:

- All previously unvaccinated adolescents ages 11 through 18 years,

- All previously unvaccinated college freshmen who will be living in dormitories,

- All persons ages 2 years and older with anatomic or functional asplenia, or terminal complement component deficiencies,

- All persons ages 2 years and older anticipating travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for the annual Hajj  

- Any person working as a microbiologist with routine exposure to isolates of N. meningitidis,

- Military recruits, and

- Any other person wishing to decrease their risk for meningococcal disease 

Since June 18th, no new cases of meningococcal disease have been reported and we are hopeful that we will not see secondary cases. However there may be asymptomatic persons in the community colonized with this organism. Persons with symptoms of meningococcal disease should seek medical care immediately and should be reported to your local health agency or the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. 

Symptoms of Meningococcal Disease may include:  

High fever

Severe headache

Stiff neck

Chills

Nausea

Vomiting

Photophobia

Confusion/Disorientation

Sleepiness

Rash (bruise-like rash) 

These symptoms can develop rapidly. The incubation period varies from 1-10 days, most commonly 3-4 days. 

REPORTING:

Immediately report all suspected cases of meningococcal disease to your local health agency or CDPHE (303-692-2700 or after-hours call: 303-370-9395). 

The Colorado Help hotline (Co Help) is available to answer questions from the public about meningococcal disease: 1-877-462-2911  

For more information on meningococcal disease, please see: http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/index.html                      

Tri-County Health Department:   
303.220.9200 / 303.461.2342 (after hours)
Fax: 303.846.6295    

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment: 
303.692.2700 / 303.370.9395 (after hours)
Fax: 303.782.0338