Health Alert: Meningitis Outbreak Associated with OSU - Be Ready

Healthcare providers evaluating college students for unexplained high fever, headache, stiff neck, or rash, are asked to consider meningococcal disease in the differential diagnosis, particularly in students who attend or are close contacts of those who attend Oregon State University (OSU), Corvallis campus, which is experiencing a serogroup B meningococcal disease outbreak. These students likely began dispersing to their home states prior to the December 9th start of winter break.

Meningococcal disease is of urgent public health importance. Suspected meningococcal disease is reportable within one working day to Southwest District Health or to the Division of Public Health (IDAPA 16.02.10) . Public health epidemiologists will contact those for whom prophylaxis is recommended. Laboratories are requested to send Neisseria meningitidis isolates to the Idaho Bureau of Laboratories for serogrouping.

All Oregon State University (OSU) undergraduates students <=25 years of age are recommended to receive a series of serogroup B meningococcal (Men B) vaccine. Idaho healthcare providers are asked to consider vaccination of undergraduate OSU students as urgent. Idaho providers of vaccines for children were notified about this outbreak last month by the Idaho Immunization Program.

When vaccinating students, knowing the brand of the first dose of Men B vaccine is critical. Bexsero® is a two-dose series, with the second dose given 30 days after the first; Trumemba® requires three doses at intervals zero, one month, and six months. The "two-dose regimen" for Trumemba® is NOT recommended for outbreak response. Brands are not interchangeable. Please ensure that patients being vaccinated with Men B vaccine are fully aware of the importance of knowing the brand name and dates for follow-up doses. Please enter Men B vaccine administration into IRIS for patients who have not opted out.

For further information:
Meningococcal Diseases: https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/index.html
Serogroup B Meningococcal Vaccine: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6422a3.htm
IRIS: https://iris.dhw.idaho.gov/
Idaho Bureau of Laboratories: http://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/Health/Labs/tabid/99/Default.aspx

For questions, concerns, or to report cases:

Southwest District Health Communicable Disease / Epidemiology
Jennifer Tripp / Cheryl Craig – Staff Epidemiologists
Confidential Reporting Line – (208) 455-5442
Confidential Reporting Fax (208) 455-5350