By Malynda Fulton
VALDOSTA — Public health officials suspect a fourth case of meningococcal meningitis in Lowndes County in the past two months.
South Health District Health Director Lynne Feldman said that a specimen from a 23-year-old female patient, who recently died at South Georgia Medical Center, has been sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC’s findings will determine whether the bacteria, Neisseria, which causes meningococcal meningitis, is in the specimen.
Feldman said there is not evidence linking this incident to the previous meningitis cases, especially since meningitis has not been confirmed in this case.
If confirmed as meningococcal meningitis, this will be the second case in which a person has died from the disease in Lowndes County since March. The first death involved an 11-month-old infant who died shortly after being admitted into the hospital on March 8.
Other recent confirmed cases of meningococcal meningitis include a 24-year-old female and a young child, both of whom were treated at South Georgia Medical Center and released.
Public Health has investigated all three confirmed cases but has found no common links between the three, said South Health District Public Information Officer Courtney Sheeley.
The best way to prevent this type of meningitis is to receive the meningococcal conjugate vaccine, Feldman said.
Meningococcal disease is a rare but serious bacterial illness, which is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in infants and children in the United States.
A serious and potentially fatal illness that can strike at any time, bacterial meningitis is an infection of fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
The disease is spread through saliva droplets and direct contact with someone who is infected. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three people carry the bacteria inside their nose and mouth but never become sick themselves.
Symptoms of meningitis appear suddenly and include high fever, severe and persistent headache, stiff neck, muscle pains, nausea and vomiting.
Ten to 15 percent of the 3,000 people infected with meningococcal bacteria each year die, even with antibiotic treatment. The disease can kill an otherwise healthy young person in 48 hours or less.
The meningococcal conjugate vaccine is available for persons 2 through 55 years of age.
The vaccine provides excellent immunity and should be considered for those who are eligible, Feldman said.
Vaccination guidelines by the CDC now include preteen boys and girls. Previously the vaccinations were only recommended for boys and girls entering high school or young adults living in a college or university dormitory.
The Lowndes County Health Department will waive the administration fee and offer the vaccine to children ages 2 to 18 who are not eligible for the Vaccines for Children program and live in the city of Valdosta at a reduced cost of $99 until Oct. 15. Individuals may check with their insurance provider for coverage.
Children ages 2 to 18, who are eligible for Vaccines for Children and live in the city of Valdosta, will receive the vaccine at no charge until Oct. 15 at the Lowndes County Health Department.
