Dr. Stefanski Quotations

We've identified these students as a target group. This is to help prevent future infections.

Those with questions should talk to their health care provider. If they go to a college, check with their student health center and see if a vaccine is available.

We're evaluating a case of meningococcemia, a bacteria that can cause meningitis or a blood infection. When someone gets infected with that bacteria, half of the cases develop meningitis, a third develop infections of the blood.

We encourage those who want to reduce their risks to be vaccinated. ... It's not a reason for panic, but it's something people should be aware of.

We have taken direction from our state office and the Center for Disease Control to vaccinate target groups.

Because the vaccine is in short supply, I recommend that people call the health units Monday to see if the supply has been replenished. We are offering it for students up to age 18 right now, but there may be additional vaccine for students aged 18 through 20.

Every year we have between 40 and 80 cases, with about three of these clusters. No one really knows why, nor does anyone really know why this virus attacked this age group (of young people in their late teens or early 20s). We do know it is spread through close contact by oral secretions. About five percent of the population has the virus all the time and never gets sick, but is always contagious. We don't know why.

Everyone who has been identified as a close contact has been treated. Those people who are at risk are household contacts, like roommates or people who come in close contact with the person through kissing or sharing of food or drink.