Hospital warns of suspected meningitis case

(CNS): Officials from the Public Health Department at the George Town hospital have said they are waiting for preliminary laboratory investigations in a suspected case of meningitis in an adult patient. Doctors are said to be maintaining a heightened state of awareness and vigilance in order to respond if the patient is found to have bacterial meningitis, which can be life-threatening.

Cayman Islands Hospital, George Town

Public health officials have not yet been able to determine if the patient has the viral or bacterial form of the disease, which causes an inflammation of the tissue that covers the brain and the spinal cord. Officials were also unable to say where the patient could have contracted the disease or whether or not they had a recent travel history.

“While people with meningitis can potentially infect others, the likelihood of widespread transmission is extremely low as the bacteria cannot live for more than a few minutes outside the body,” officials stated. With a 95% vaccination coverage in Cayman, person-to-person transmission of the disease within the islands is likely to be minimal if the patient is confirmed to have the disease.

As well as bacterial or viral infections, meningitis can be caused by physical injury, other diseases or drugs, and the acting medical officer of health, Dr Samuel Williams, said the department is working with overseas partners to gain sufficient information, through laboratory analysis, to determine if a public health response is warranted.

“Although viral meningitis is rarely fatal, bacterial meningitis can be life-threatening,” officials stated. The symptoms of both are nearly identical and Dr Williams said conclusive tests are necessary to inform any plans by his department.

Viral meningitis is the most common type and most people usually get better on their own without treatment. Infants younger than one month old and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe illness.

Reiterating the importance of vaccination to mitigate infections or transmission, Dr Williams said that two vaccines approved by the World Health Organization to combat meningitis infection are already routinely given in the Cayman Islands as part of the immunisation schedule. These are the Hib component of the combined DTaP IPV Hib vaccine and the Meningococcal vaccine MPSV4.

The combined DTaP IPV Hib vaccine is part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule, offered at two, four, six and 15 months. It provides protection against the bacteria haemophilus influenza type b, which can result in meningitis. Older children and adults at risk for Hib infection also receive the Hib vaccine when indicated.

The meningococcal vaccine MPSV4 is offered mainly to students attending school overseas, especially those who reside in dormitories, and travellers to countries in which meningitis is endemic. The Public Health Department said it maintains adequate stocks of both vaccines and anyone who may not have had the vaccine can schedule an appointment at the Public Health Clinic to be vaccinated. The pneumococcal vaccine scheduled at two, four, six, and 12 months also provides some degree of meningitis protection.

Viral meningitis can be a complication of vaccine preventable diseases like measles, mumps, and chicken pox among others. It can also result in serious illness in infants less than one year of age, and persons with a weak immune system.

Public health officials said they are encouraging parents of children and members of the public who have not received the DTaP IPV Hib vaccine, the meningococcal vaccine MPSV4 or the pneumococcal vaccine, to consult with their physician or schedule an appointment at the Public Health Clinic to be vaccinated.

Immunization details:

The current childhood immunization schedule recommends that, by the age of 15 months, infants should have received the following vaccines, which offer protection against 13 diseases:

• Three doses of hepatitis B at birth, six weeks, nine months
• One dose of BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin – TB vaccine) at six weeks
• Three doses of rotavirus at six weeks, four months, six months
• Four  doses of the combined DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough), IPV (inactivated polio vaccine) and Hib (Haemophilus influenza type b) at two, four, six months , 15 months
• Four doses pneumococcal vaccine (Prevnar) at two, four, six months and 12 months
• One dose of varicella (chickenpox) at 12 months
• One dose of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) & a booster dose of combined DTaP and Hib all at 15 months.

Children also need booster doses of combined DTaP and IPV and second dose of MMR at school entry (four- five years).  For children six months and older and all adults, an annual Influenza vaccine is recommended. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is offered to 11-12 year olds girls and older children if they did not get vaccine at this age. In addition to childhood immunisation, vaccines to prevent serious infectious diseases for adults are also available, including boosts for tetanus and diptheria as well as the annual influenza vaccine.

For information regarding immunisations contact your private pediatrician or the following district health centres:-

Public Health Department:                         244-2648

West Bay Health Centre:                             949-3439

Bodden Town Health Centre:                     947-2299

East End Health Centre:                              947-7440

North Side Health Centre:                           947-9525

Faith Hospital, Cayman Brac:                     948-2243

Little Cayman Clinic:                                    948-0072