Cdc Meningitis Case Studies
A case report from May 24, 2001 involves a 62-year-old passenger who traveled by air on May 20, for a flight of greater than 8 hours in length. This passenger traveled from Sidney, Australia through Los Angeles International airport to JFK International Airport. This passenger began to feel ill and required assistance at the JKF airport. This passenger was hospitalized and diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis. From 1999 through 2001 the CDC received 21 reports of air-travel associated meningococcal disease, every 6 weeks on average. The spread of airborne pathogens including Neisseria meningitides, are spread easily in the environment of a Commercial aircraft. (https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5023a2.htm) The CDC created standards
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This severe illness impacts the meninges that are the protective lining of the brain and spinal cord, these become infected and swollen which is referred to as meningitis. Another type of very serious illness is caused by Neisseria meningitdes entering the bloodstream, multiplying, and causing septicemia or bacteremia which results in bleeding into the skin and organs, due to damaged blood vessels. Bacterial meningitis can result in hearing loss, mental disabilities, brain damage. Meningiococcal septicemia can result in hemorrhagic rash and circulatory collapse. With early diagnosis of the disease and immediate, appropriate treatment, 5%-10% of patients die, within 24-48 hours on onset. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/meningococcal/impact/en/) The meningococcus bacteria are contained in secretions of the back of the nose, throat and respiratory tract of the host and are spread through close contact where secretions may be shared as in kissing, coughing, sneezing, sharing eating or drinking utensils, usually through lengthy contact with an infected person or carrier. Living in the same household or within close contact is an increased risk, although these bacteria are not as easy to spread as the common flu or cold. You cannot become infected simply by breathing the same air. The incubation period can range between 2-10 days with an average of 4 days. Within 3-7 days from exposure,
This severe illness impacts the meninges that are the protective lining of the brain and spinal cord, these become infected and swollen which is referred to as meningitis. Another type of very serious illness is caused by Neisseria meningitdes entering the bloodstream, multiplying, and causing septicemia or bacteremia which results in bleeding into the skin and organs, due to damaged blood vessels. Bacterial meningitis can result in hearing loss, mental disabilities, brain damage. Meningiococcal septicemia can result in hemorrhagic rash and circulatory collapse. With early diagnosis of the disease and immediate, appropriate treatment, 5%-10% of patients die, within 24-48 hours on onset. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/meningococcal/impact/en/) The meningococcus bacteria are contained in secretions of the back of the nose, throat and respiratory tract of the host and are spread through close contact where secretions may be shared as in kissing, coughing, sneezing, sharing eating or drinking utensils, usually through lengthy contact with an infected person or carrier. Living in the same household or within close contact is an increased risk, although these bacteria are not as easy to spread as the common flu or cold. You cannot become infected simply by breathing the same air. The incubation period can range between 2-10 days with an average of 4 days. Within 3-7 days from exposure,