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Meningitis outbreak in Houston sickens 33, kills two

HOUSTON, Texas (CNN) -- There have been 33 confirmed cases of bacterial meningitis in the Houston area since October, Texas health officials said Monday. Both children and adults developed the infection and two youngsters, a boy and a girl, died.

Seventeen cases were among people living in the city of Houston. Other cases were detected in suburban areas including Montgomery County, which is north Houston, and Fort Bend County, which is southwest of the city.

A 12-year-old girl died in November and a 13-year-old boy died in January.

Health officials said that while the number of cases is significant, it's a small fraction of the area's 4 1/2 million people.

"Since the area has a few cases in small areas within the city, it's considered an outbreak," said Dr. Peter Dull, medical epidemiologist with the Infectious Diseases branch of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

As with any meningitis outbreak, antibiotics are recommended for patients' relatives and anyone who has had close contact. Mass vaccination clinics have been offered in some areas.

"We're concerned since there have been a series of cases close together and we want to limit spread of the infection," said Doug McBride, public information officer, Texas Department of Health. "But we don't want to panic the public. We want people to be informed, but not alarmed."

Bacterial meningitis is an infection that attacks the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms are flu-like and include headache, fever and stiff neck. The symptoms can come on quickly and up to 10 percent of patients die within days of developing the disease. Other patients may experience organ or brain damage and loss of limbs. Quick medical intervention is essential for a good recovery. Meningitis typically occurs in late winter or early spring.

This type of meningitis is spread through droplets in the air, coughing, sneezing, kissing and sharing drinks.

"There's no evidence that people traveling to the Houston area should be concerned," said Dull. "That would be an excessive fear."

Public health experts say such outbreaks are not unusual.

"We see outbreaks of this size almost every year," said Dull " and it's still early, the Houston outbreak could get bigger, but a lot of vaccines have been distributed so that should prevent a much larger problem."

The vaccine is about 85 percent effective against four strains of meningitis, which account for about 70 percent of cases.



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RELATED SITES:
CDC - Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases
Texas Department of Health
Journal of the American Medical Association
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