The Bureau of Epidemiology is receiving many calls from the public requesting locations where meningitis vaccine may be obtained. The vaccine for meningitis is not recommended for residents of Houston at this time. The illness is not easy to acquire since the bacterium, Neisseria meningitidis, does not survive long outside the human body. Unlike the common cold or the flu, a person needs to have prolonged direct contact with the person who has the illness, to acquire the infection.

The decision by local health authorities to offer immunizations is based on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. These guidelines specify that vaccination should be recommended if: 10 laboratory-confirmed cases occur per 100,000 population in a 3-month time period or 3 laboratory confirmed cases occur within the same organization (such as a school) within 3 months or less. The number of cases in Houston does not meet these criteria for providing the vaccine.

Each case of meningococcal disease is thoroughly investigated by HDHHS for contacts at risk and possible links to other confirmed cases. HDHHS provides an antibiotic (rifampin) to individuals determined to be close contacts. If additional cases occur in the same organization (such as a school) or community, then that population is examined closely, to determine whether it meets vaccination criteria before immunizations are recommended.

For additional information: call the Bureau of Epidemiolgy at 713-794-9181; or the Texas Department of Health toll-free number at 1-888-883-9997 or visit the web cite for the CDC @ http://www.cdc.gov/health/diseases.htm