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st the tribune thursday january 1998 ml health department answers meningitis concerns in response to the numer ous calls received by the york region health ser vices health connection line regarding the recent outbreak of meningitis in kitchenerwaterloo the regional health department is providing this list of the most frequently asked questions and their answers what is meningitis meningitis is an infec tion usually affecting the brain and spinal cord meningococcal infection is a serious bacterial form of meningitis the current outbreak in the kitchener- waterloo region involves a form of meningitis caused by neisseria meningitidis group g symptoms usual ly include fever severe headache nausea and vom iting neck stiffness and skin rash is there an outbreak in york region there is no outbreak in york region there were only two cases of meningi tis in york region in 1997 which is lower than what we normally experience in a given year what is the status of the outbreak in kitchener- waterloo the waterloo regional community health depart ment is proceeding with an immunization campaign due to the recent outbreak of meningococcal disease since dec 3 a cluster of six cases of meningitis has occurred in the kitchener- waterloo area two individ uals have died five of the six cases reside in kitchen erwaterloo while the sixth is a guelph resident who had contact with one of the other cases- who should be immu nized there have been no cases of meningitis reported to the york region health services department in over two months and only two cases occurred in 1 997 the current outbreak in kitchenerwaterloo does not put york region resi dents at increased risk however we are recom mending that those between the ages of two and 22 who during the past month have lived attended school or worked in the region of waterloo and who are intending to return to the kitchenerwaterloo area be immunized this health advisory does not include people who either travelled through the region or intend to do so in the near future where are immuniza tion clinics being offered immunization clinics are only being offered in the municipal area of kitchen erwaterloo the immu nization campaign started on dec 20 1997 to vacci nate all residents aged 222 years and included three townships to the north as of jan 4 1998 phase one and two of the immuniza tion campaign had been completed starting tues day clinics began at post- secondary institutions in the area including univer sity of waterloo wilfred laurier university and conestoga- college stu- dents are advised to check their email bulletin boards or contact their health ser vices office for oncampus clinic times and locations you can also contact the waterloo region commu nity health department at telephone number 519 8832289 is it safe to travel to and from kitchener- water loo yes it is safe to travel to and from the kitchener- waterloo area meningitis is not highly contagious being spread by direct close personal contact with saliva and secretions from the nose close contact includes sharing of food beverage containers sports water bottles straws ciga rettes or kissing why are no immuniza tion clinics being offered in york region immunization for menin gitis is only offered when there is an active outbreak there- are no cases of meningitis reported in york region there is no out break in york region the current outbreak is in kitchener- waterloo arid children aged 222 have all been offered the vaccine postsecondary students will be immunized this week at the university of waterloo wilfred laurier university and conestoga college who is susceptible to meningitis meningococcal meningi tis occurs most frequently in children less than five years old especially in the six to 12 month age group meningococcal meningitis also com monly affects those between 15 and 18 years of age if there is a case in york region how would the heath services department know all cases of meningitis in york region must be reported to the health services department the depart ment actively investigates all known contacts in each case and takes the necessary action to protect the health and wellbeing of the residents of york region for more informationplease call the york region health department at 18003615653 taking care of fitness everyday at women in motion health fitness we have everything need to take care of your fitness needs you c lj jew its preregistration special three months free no long term commitments free babysitting 9052018356 women in motion jteacth and jitness clubs 144 main street north markham other locations meado available on prepaid membership only limited time offer call for details if your confidence in the post offices reliability is wavering on in and see usj we can take care of all of your delivery needs from printing right through to delivery we can deliver your flyers g anywhere in markham unionville stouffvilleuxbridge and surrounding areas dont delay call todayl call linda macfarlane 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