has there been a sudden epidemic of meningitis?

[notadmblnd]

Suddenly I'm seeing ad for a vaccine called Manectra. It is my understanding that there are two types of meningitis, viral and bacterial. I also understand that viral just has to run it course and that bacterial is very rare. So why the sudden ad for a vaccine?

on edit: Just wanted to add that they appear to be marketing this for people as young as 11.

[TZ]

1. The vaccines been around for awhile

Just because you haven't seen it before, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. And yes, menigitis is a problem in HS and college campus..and potentially lethal. Every year young people die from it..and it can be pretty contagious.
I know a lot of the college campuses want/encourage their students to get this vaccine.
I swear on this board health professionals can't win..either a) they don't want to cure us because of profits, or when they do come out with a PREVENTATIVE like a vaccine its ONLY ABOUT MONEY.
Would you like to tell me what could possibly be wrong with prevention of a LETHAL problem, thats not uncommon or as rare as some people think?

Also do you think that just because something might be "rare" we shouldn't develop a vaccine for it? I have a rare disease and I would damn well be happy to have more research done on it..
BTW, since college and high school students seem prone, starting with children as young as 11 is a good idea (and why should it be teh horror that they want children to get a vaccine?)

[notadmblnd]

6. did you see me make any judgements in my post?

I asked a simple question and all of a sudden I'm getting a lecture from you based on your assumption of what you think I think. Thanks so much for jumping all over me without even addressing the viral vs bacterial.

[livvy]

2. It could be timing...

Cases often occur in summer or fall, as kids go back to school and/or start college.

The vaccines have been around for a while. There are several, and some are not approved here, although they have been used in other countries. Maybe this is a newly approved version?

I checked the CDC site and couldn't find any alerts for the US.

[PDJane]

3. There have been three cases of meningitis

in my neighbourhood this summer, and two of them have been adults.

[carlyhippy]

4. here all college students must have meningitis vaccines before entry

if they live in a dorm. We never had this vaccine when I was a kid, but I don't ever remember knowing any kid who had contacted meningitis either.

[Marrah_G]

5. In 1995 when I was living in RI my entire city had to be vaccinated against it

Woonsocket, RI.

[FedUpWithIt All]

7. I attended a funeral for a 10 yr old meningitis victim last year.

It was sudden and from what i understand it is quite spreadable among this age group through school contact.

There were a few other cases in my general area last year.

I am not sure if this is an increase.

[hedgehog]

8. It's not a sudden epidemic but rather the availability of a vaccine

and a recommendation for younger kids to get it. I'd say that meningitis is relatively uncommon but devastating when it does strike.

[notadmblnd]

10. I'm aware.. one of my sisters had viral meningitis years ago

but there was nothing the Drs. could do. The ad doesn't make a distinction in regards to what type of meningitis this vaccine immunizes against. Hence my question.

[hedgehog]

11. From the web site:

Menactra vaccine protects. It’s an effective defense against the most common strains of the meningitis bacteria (A, C, Y, and W-135) in the United States.


http://www.menactra.com/what_is_menactra.html



caveat: this is the manufacturer's site.

[Ilsa]

9. What Increases Your Risk

Factors that may increase the risk for meningitis include:

Genetics. Some people may inherit the tendency to get meningitis. If they come in contact with organisms that can cause the infection, they may be likely to get infected.

Being male. Males get meningitis more often than females.

Age. In general, babies, young children, young adults, and older adults are at highest risk of getting meningitis.

Crowded living conditions. People in camps, schools, and college dormitories are more likely than others to get meningitis caused by organisms that can spread easily from one person to another. For example:

College freshmen. Freshmen who live in dormitories have a slightly greater chance of getting meningitis compared with other people their age. However, the risk in college students overall is as low as in people their age who are not going to college.

Children attending day care centers. Children who attend day care centers are more likely than other children to get meningitis caused by organisms that are easily spread through stool or contaminated hands or water.


It's such a dangerous infection.