Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Tag Archives: Neisseria meningitidis bacteria

Three new OC Meningococcal Disease cases including a death in the past week

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For Immediate Release: August 3, 2016

Contact: Jessica Good, Public Information Officer, (714) 834-2178, JGood@ochca.com

Three New OC Meningococcal Disease Cases, Including a Fatality, Confirmed in Past 7 Days

Men Who Have Sex with Men Strongly Encouraged to Get Vaccinated

(Santa Ana, CA) – The OC Health Care Agency strongly encourages men who have sex with men (MSM) in Orange County to get meningococcal vaccination as an outbreak of meningococcal disease, which has disproportionately affected MSM, has led to three new cases and another death here within the past 7 days.

The outbreak, which was reported earlier by the California Department of Public Health, has been occurring in the last several months in Southern California, particularly in Orange and Los Angeles Counties. Continue reading→

Increase in Meningococcal Disease in So. Cal.’s men who have sex with other men

Posted on by Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: July 25, 2016

Contact: Jessica Good, Public Information Officer, (714) 834-2178, JGood@ochca.com

Increase in Meningococcal Disease in Men Who Have Sex with Men in Southern California

(Santa Ana, CA) – The California Department of Public Health is reporting an increase of meningococcal disease in Southern California, particularly in Orange and Los Angeles Counties. A cluster of cases in the last several months has disproportionately affected men who have sex with men (MSM).

Meningococcal disease is caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria, which are transmitted from person-to-person through respiratory droplets, during face-to-face or prolonged contact, or by sharing utensils, drinks or cigarettes. It is a serious infection that can cause meningitis (brain infection) and/or bacteremia (blood infection), and can lead to death. To date, Orange County has had four cases that are part of the cluster in Southern California; three of these cases have occurred since June 1, including one death. On average, Orange County has only five meningococcal cases each year. Continue reading→