For Immediate Release
Sunday, May 25, 1997
| Contact: Jon Baumbach, MD, MPH District Health Officer (505) 524-6140 |
Luis Castellanos, MD, PhD Epidemiologist (505) 646-7966; 1-800-784-0394 Pager 1-800-999-6710, ID 990-8862 |
The New Mexico Department of Health in Las Cruces received confirmation this week of a case of meningococcal meningitis in a 8-month old infant from Silver City.
Meningococcal disease occurs commonly in children and young adults, primarily affecting very small children. The bacteria that causes this disease is Neisseria Meningitidis, which is transmitted through close person to person contact involving respiratory secretions. Meningitis can begin with sudden onset, fever with headache, skin rash, nausea, vomiting, and stiff neck. When treated promptly, most people with meningitis will recover completely, however, 5 to 20% of survivors may have some permanent nervous system damage.
Any person with these symptoms should contact a health care provider without delay. This disease progresses very rapidly, therefore, any individuals with it requires immediate medical attention and therapy with antibiotics.
Close contacts of persons with the disease also require a preventive treatment with an antibiotic to avoid occurrence of disease after close exposure.
Local health officials in Grant County are trying to identify new cases of meningitis and those who may have had close contact with persons with the disease so that they can be treated with preventive antibiotics.
The Department of Health offers the following recommendations for dealing with meningococcal meningitis:
1-Any person who may experience the symptoms described before should immediately contact his/her private physician or any health care provider.If you have any questions, please contact your health care provider, your local public health office (538-5318), or call Dr. Joan Baumbach at 524-6144, or Dr. Luis Castellanos at 646-7966 or 1-800-784-0394 or use pager 1-800-999-6710, pager ID 990-8862, at the New Mexico Department of Health in Las Cruces.
2-Anyone who has been in contact with a person with suspected or confirmed meningococcal infection should seek medical advice from their private physician or local health office.
3-Anyone who has been diagnosed with meningococcal infection, either by clinical or laboratory means, should stay home and avoid contact with persons outside their family for two days after beginning antibiotic therapy.
4-Persons being treated preventively to avoid menigococcal infection should make sure that they complete the full 2 days of therapy.
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New Mexico Border Health Office
District III, Public Health Division 1170 N. Solano, Ste. L Las Cruces, NM 88001 Phone: (505) 528-5156 Fax: (505) 528-6045 Toll free: 1-800-784-0394 bho@nmsu.edu |
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