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The response was a coordinated effort of Lake County Public Health, Lake County Office of Education, Clearlake Family Health Center and a variety of other local health providers.
Health officials said 61 close contacts were identified and referred for treatment.
Particular assistance was provided from the local health care community, including but not limited to Dr. Luis Diaz and Clearlake Family Health Center, Lake Pharmacy and North Lake Pharmacy.
The Lake County Office of Education worked closely with Lake County Public Health to address the issue.
The Pomo Early Connection preschool closed on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to enable employees and children to receive the recommended preventive treatment and for thorough disinfection of the facility, according to the two agencies.
According to Lake County Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait, the response showed remarkable multi-agency cooperation and assistance from the health care community, which was crucial to a timely and effective intervention.
“It is gratifying to know that our community is so ready to assist, particularly as personnel resources are shrinking,” she said. “It makes our public-private partnerships more important than ever. We are wishing a speedy recovery for the child who fell ill and are crossing our fingers that there will be no additional cases. With the success we had in rapidly getting preventive treatment to the close contacts, I’m feeling optimistic. ”
Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection that strikes approximately 1,000 people in the United States each year, health officials said.
Many people carry the bacteria in the nose and throat. The bacteria can spread by exchanging respiratory and/or throat secretions. However, only rarely do the bacteria invade the bloodstream to cause serious infection, which can include meningitis, according to the report.
When infection occurs, it is serious and can be deadly, especially if antibiotic treatment is not started quickly. It starts with flu-like symptoms such as fever and headache, later progressing to a rash, stiff neck and confusion.
Why some people develop illness and others do not is not well understood. Health officials said seasonal variations in the disease occur, with more activity in the winter months. The annual number of cases reported in California in recent years varies between 120 and 200 cases.
Meningococcal disease most frequently occurs in children under age 5 years and in late adolescence/early adulthood.
A vaccine is available for protection against about half of the types of meningococcal disease that are identified. It is generally recommended for children starting at age 11-12 years. Although it is not routinely recommended for younger age groups, it is given to some children who are unusually susceptible to infections.
Meningococcal disease can result in outbreaks, particularly in congregate facilities, such as dormitories and daycare settings, the county health department said.
When one or more cases of this infection occur, measures are taken to prevent additional infections in close contacts who may have been exposed to the saliva or respiratory secretions of the sick individual. The preventive treatment usually consists of a single dose of antibiotic.
People who have had close contact with someone sick with meningococcal disease often ask whether it is necessary or helpful for their own family and friends to receive the preventive treatment. Health officials don’t recommend preventive treatment of people who did not have direct exposure to the ill person’s saliva or respiratory secretions during the infectious period.
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