The University of Oregon opted to participate in a federal study investigating whether two vaccines now being administered to students can decrease the population carrying the meningococcal disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are conducting the study in hopes it will cause the federal government to extend guidelines on who should receive the vaccines and how often.
Here are 10 facts to note:
1. The meningococcal outbreak has sickened six people since January and resulted in the unfortunate death of student Lauren Jones.
2. Ms. Jones' death prompted the CDC to direct the University of Oregon to inoculate nearly 22,000 people, including more than 10,000 undergraduate students, with two vaccines.
3. The two vaccines, Bexsero and Trumenba, were licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration based on data suggesting they prevented the specific Type B bacteria.
4. Lucy McNamara, a CDC scientist, states the Type B bacteria the vaccines are preventing infects the bloodstream, brain or the spinal cord's protective membranes resulting in either meningitis or meningococcemia, both rare yet potentially fatal diseases.
5 The study will show whether individuals are carries of the Type B bacteria even if they never have exhibited symptoms, which is crucial because these individuals can still transmit the bacteria to others.
7. Thus far, the CDC's guidelines only recommend the two vaccines for cases of outbreak or for those at a high risk of infection.
8. The results of the study could influence the panel meeting June 24 in deciding whether recommendations will include teenagers and college students.
9. Emily Fisher, MD, of the Oregon Public Health Division stated news of a seventh case of bacteria infection tied to the University of Oregon shows the bacteria is prevalent and transmission is ongoing.
10. One of the seven strains of the bacteria resulted in an outbreak at the University of California at Santa Barbara that sickened four students.
For more on infection control:
Tell-all: New test can reveal any virus you've ever had — 10 facts to know
Tick-borne infection infecting people in US — 7 facts to observe
8 notes on patient with rare form of tuberculosis
