Meningitis Outbreak in Los Angeles: Three People Have Died Since February; Gay Men At Greater Risk, Experts Say
...
HOLLYWOOD,
CA - APRIL 15: Kevin Daniels (R) receives a free meningitis vaccine
from Dr. Wayne Chen at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation pharmacy on April
15, 2013 in Hollywood, California. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation
started free meningitis vaccines after a West Hollywood man died from
the disease. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) (Photo : Getty
Images)
After
a year since the last death due to this disease, more gay men have died
from the disease in Los Angeles. Though anyone can be susceptible to
the disease, the Californian city's gay community appears to have been
particularly affected by it and has prompted health officials and
community leaders to act.
Since February, three men have died of bacterial meningitis or invasive meningococcal disease, according to Reuters. They were part of a group of eight men who were infected with the disease. One man died in February while the other two in late March. All were either 27 or 28 years of age.
Los Angeles' gay community, which covers the neighborhoods of West and North Hollywood, is at greater threat for infection, according to one medical experts who says men who have sex with men have a higher chance of infection. According to the Los Angeles Times, the medical director of the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center, Robert Bolan, said there is cause for concern since the chance of infection is particularly higher among those who are HIV positive.
.....Since February, three men have died of bacterial meningitis or invasive meningococcal disease, according to Reuters. They were part of a group of eight men who were infected with the disease. One man died in February while the other two in late March. All were either 27 or 28 years of age.
Los Angeles' gay community, which covers the neighborhoods of West and North Hollywood, is at greater threat for infection, according to one medical experts who says men who have sex with men have a higher chance of infection. According to the Los Angeles Times, the medical director of the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center, Robert Bolan, said there is cause for concern since the chance of infection is particularly higher among those who are HIV positive.
NBC News
Three Die of Meningitis Outbreak in Los Angeles
LOS
ANGELES – Three men in their 20s have died from a meningitis outbreak
in the gay community in the Los Angeles area this year, a public health
spokesman said on Thursday, a day after officials called on HIV-positive
gay men in the region to be vaccinated against the disease.
One
man died in February and the other two died in late March, said a
spokesman for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The
men were all either 27 or 28 years old.
They
were among eight people who have contracted invasive meningococcal
disease in 2014, the Public Health Department said in a statement. That
is seen as a high rate of infection for the Los Angeles area, which in
recent years has seen the number of annual cases range between 12 and
37.
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