Meningitis Vaccination Campaign at Canada University

A meningitis vaccination campaign has been launched by health authorities at Acadia University in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. This comes after two cases of meningitis were detected at the Canadian university. Head of public health for the province of Nova Scotia, Robert Strang, announced the detection of a second strain B meningitis case at the university. He said, "Two cases of the same strain of meningococcal meningitis in one location, such as a university campus, constitutes an institutional outbreak. A vaccination campaign is being organized for the university's several thousand students."

Meningitis is an infection that causes swelling around the brain and spinal cord, and can quickly become fatal. The infection can be transferred by secretions from the nose and mouth. Strang said, "But the disease is not highly contagious. This disease does not spread through the air or through casual exposure." The government of Nova Scotia has ordered for 10,000 vaccines for the vaccination campaign. A second dose will be given to students before the end of the semester. This is the fourth case of meningitis detected in the province this year.

Source-Medindia