watch: meningitis b risk increases as college students head back to school
“young adults who go off to university are about three times higher risk of catching meningitis b than kids the same age who are not in university or college, more so if they're in a in a dorm environment.”
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new friends, new digs and sharing close quarters with complete strangers. there’s nothing quite like residence life when moving off to college or university. but before the school year ramps up, experts recommend students ask about getting vaccinated for meningitis b so they can share dishes with their roomies in peace.
while kids in canada can get vaccinated against several different forms of meningitis, the meningitis b vaccine is newer and not yet included in the childhood vaccination schedule, explains dr. shelly mcneil, head of the division of infectious diseases at the nova scotia health authority. this becomes especially important when kids go off to university or college, because the unique communal living situations in college dorms puts kids at risk for contracting the bacteria that causes meningococcal meningitis.
“young adults who go off to university are about three times higher risk of catching meningitis b than kids the same age who are not in university or college,” says mcneil. “more so if they’re in a in a dorm environment.”
meningitis occurs when the brain or spinal cord become inflamed, which can cause serious health effects like hearing loss, cognitive disability, and even death. it can be caused by various types of infection, including bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, with meningitis b specifically being caused by bacteria neisseria meningitidis, subtype b.
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n. meningitidis can take up residence in the nose and at the back of the throat, and is spread through secretions from the nose and mouth — like saliva and mucus. this means sharing things like food, drinks, plates, glasses, utensils, cigarettes and vapes (all common occurrences when living in a dorm environment) create a risk of spreading the bacteria. it can also be spread through kissing and sexual activity.
a meningitis outbreak at dalhousie university in december 2022 led to the tragic death of one student. that outbreak came on the heels of the death of a student in november at saint mary’s university, also suspected to be caused by meningococcal b.
are meningitis b vaccinations required to attend post-secondary schools in canada?
currently, vaccination against the bacteria that causes meningitis b is not included as part of the childhood vaccination schedule. vaccination against n. meningitidis, strain c is typically administered as part of the routine vaccination schedule for canadian infants, and the meningococcal conjugate quadrivalent vaccine — vaccinating against types a, c, w and y — is recommended for children at 12 years of age.
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“as a parent, if we got all of baby’s recommended vaccines and then we signed all the consent forms in school and got all the vaccines that were recommended in school, when we’re sending our kids off to university or college, we think i’ve done everything i need to do,” says mcneil. “ … they don’t realize that meningitis b vaccine is a bit newer, but also not part of the publicly funded school based or baby vaccine program.”
p.e.i. and nova scotia have recently began funding programs for college-aged students to get the vaccine, but residences of other provinces still have to pay for the it out-of-pocket or through insurance. mcneil recommends talking to your doctor or pharmacists to understand who is eligible for the vaccine in their province.
what is meningitis b?
meningitis b is a form of meningococcal meningitis, a term used to describe cases of meningitis caused by the bacteria neisseria meningitidis. there are 12 different strains, or serogroups, of n. meningitidis, with types a, b, c, w-135 and y being the most common in canada. the bacteria can live in the nose and back of the throat for up to 6 months without causing symptoms but can still be spread to others during this time. up to 10 per cent of healthy people (called “carriers”) may contract this bacterium in their lifetime.
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in some cases, the bacteria will enter the bloodstream or infect the meninges, the delicate lining of the brain and spinal cord, causing invasive meningococcal disease. invasive meningococcal disease carries serious health risks, including meningitis, meningococcemia and/or sepsis. the condition progresses quickly and can cause severe complications in as little as 24 hours. approximately 10 per cent of cases are fatal, and 20-30 per cent of cases will leave long-term complications like hearing loss, vision loss, cognitive changes or even require amputation.
initial symptoms of contracting the bacteria — including headache, drowsiness, fever, chills, vomiting and confusion — are often mistaken for the flu. even the hallmark signs of meningitis, headache paired with a fever, may not initially raise alarm.
blood tests, lumbar puncture, and/or ct scan may be used to confirm a meningococcal disease diagnosis, but because of the time-sensitive nature of the condition treatment may be started before confirmation. if caught in time, bacterial meningitis is treated with antibiotics and, in some cases, steroids to attempt to stop the swelling in the meninges. individuals who have had close contact with someone diagnosed with meningococcal disease may also be prescribed antibiotics as a precautionary measure.
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in canada, approximately 1 in 100,000 people contract meningococcal disease each year, amounting to roughly 200 cases. between 2006 and 2011, infants under 1 one year old were reported to be at the highest risk of developing the condition (7.35 cases per 100,000), followed by children aged one to four (1.89 cases per 100,000) and then young adults aged 15 to 19 (1.17 cases per 100,000).
because the condition moves so quickly and is difficult to initially diagnose, mcneil explains that the best way to protect yourself or your kids from meningitis is to get vaccinated.
“you’re going to be living in a dorm, you’re in close contact,” explains mcneil. “it’s not realistic to say don’t have close contact with anyone, obviously. the better way to protect yourself is really through vaccination.”
emma jones is a multimedia editor with healthing. you can reach her at emjones@postmedia.com or on instagram and twitter @jonesyjourn.
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