New meningitis vaccine could stop outbreaks

[TZ]

LONDON -- Health officials say a new meningitis vaccine will help prevent epidemics in Africa for the first time, revolutionizing how doctors fight outbreaks of the deadly disease.

Meningitis, a potentially fatal infection of the lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, strikes more than 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia. Last year, there were about 80,000 cases including more than 4,000 deaths.

While rich countries have used meningitis vaccines for years, those available in the developing world cannot be used to prevent outbreaks because they don't last very long. They also cannot be used in children under 2, who are most vulnerable to the disease. Until now, health officials have only immunized people in an emergency situation once an outbreak starts.

Last week, the World Health Organization approved a new vaccine that could stop outbreaks before they even begin
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/30/AR2010063001446.html?hpid=moreheadlines
This is a very good thing. Despite what people think, in Africa its lack of availiability of vaccines common overseas that is the biggest problem.
And I've PERSONALLY worked on the Gates foundation project when I worked on the Malaria Vaccine Initiative at NIH. Like him or hate him, Gates money has saved alot of people lives in Africa by providing no cost/low cost vaccines.

[xchrom]

1. Recommend

[MountainLaurel]

2. My brother had meningitis as an infant

In prevaccination days. It took his hearing in one ear and part of his hearing in the other. This is indeed a very good thing.

[semillama]

3. Is this the same type of meningitis that takes out high school and college kids too?

I knew someone who died of that type - real tragedy. He was an awesome person poised to accomplish great things, and just like that, he was dead.

[TZ]

5. Yep.

Many college students have to get this before starting classes. It seems to be a pretty effective vaccine.

[mzmolly]

4. I think the work the Gates Foundation is doing in regard to vaccination

is wonderful. Developing vaccines due to targeting a need vs. profit, is how it should be done IMHO.

Health officials are planning to roll out the vaccine in three of the countries most heavily affected by meningitis: Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Berman estimated they still need about $11 million, and another $475 million to get the vaccine to the other 22 countries that need it most.

Perea said meningitis outbreaks are hugely disruptive to African health systems, which come to a halt when an epidemic hits. "For those four or five months, health workers have to abandon everything else and just deal with meningitis patients."

Officials hope to vaccinate at least 80 to 90 percent of people in meningitis-hit countries. With that many people immunized, even people who don't get the shot should be protected.

[HuckleB]

6. K & R!