Young people in Okanagan hit by potentially deadly disease
Health region steps up immunization clinics against meningococcal disease to battle Valley outbreak
Interior Health has declared an outbreak of a serious bacterial illness in the Okanagan.
To date this year, IH has identified 11 cases of meningococcal disease, the majority of which occurred in the Okanagan among people aged 15 to 19.
One teenager who tested positive for the bacteria this year has died, said Karin Goodison, medical health officer with IH.
“The link between that and the cause of death is unclear,” she said.
During the past six months, IH has recorded five cases of the disease, including three in Oliver, one in the Central Okanagan and one in Vernon.
Typically, the health authority sees fewer than five cases a year, said Goodison.
The meningococcal quadrivalent vaccine has been part of the routine immunization schedule for B.C. students in Grade 9 since 2016, and IH is now offering immunization clinics throughout the Okanagan for all students in grades 9 to 12, and for people aged 15 to 19 who do not attend school.
The first clinic was offered Thursday in Vernon.
“To ensure immunization is in place before the winter holidays, we are acting very quickly to get these clinics in place,” said Goodison.
The disease is transmitted through sharing of saliva, including sharing drinking glasses, sharing cigarettes and kissing, along with coughing and sneezing, said Goodison.
“A certain percentage of the population will actually carry this bacteria around in their nose, so if more people are potentially carrying that bacteria around, there is an increased risk that this could be spread person to person, with some of those individuals becoming ill,” said Goodison. “The best way to prevent meningococcal disease is to not swap spit.”
Currently, the outbreak is limited to the Okanagan, but IH is spreading the news across the province.
“We’re letting other health authorities be aware of our response so they can support us in potentially vaccinating any people who may be travelling away from the Okanagan back to their home for the Christmas holidays,” said Goodison.
Meningococcal disease may be mistaken for the flu at first. Symptoms can include sudden fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to light, tiredness, severe aches and pains, and skin rash.
For information about immunization clinic locations and times, go online to interiorhealth.ca.