There is a fever and rash outbreak in Galle prison, posing a risk of spreading. Medical professionals at Karapitiya Teaching Hospital have identified the cause as a dangerous bacterium known as meningococcal.
Over the past few days, several cases of patients with these symptoms have emerged from Galle Prison, and tragically, two inmates displaying these symptoms who were admitted to Karapitiya Hospital have passed away.
Yesterday (21), it was reported that two more patients are currently receiving inpatient care at Karapitiya Teaching Hospital.
Doctors at the hospital mentioned that one of these patients was hospitalized because they exhibited similar symptoms a few days after being released from prison.
Medical experts emphasize that meningococcal bacteria pose a greater threat to children and can be fatal for individuals with compromised health due to drug use.
As this bacterium is suspected to be responsible for the recent deaths of two inmates at Galle prison, doctors and healthcare personnel are advised to wear face masks while dealing with patients displaying such symptoms.
Causes
Bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis cause meningococcal disease. About 1 in 10 people have these bacteria in the back of their nose and throat without being ill. This is called being ‘a carrier.’ Sometimes the bacteria invade the body and cause certain illnesses, which are known as meningococcal disease.
Six serogroups (types) of Neisseria meningitidis — A, B, C, W, X, and Y —cause most disease worldwide
Spread to others
People spread meningococcal bacteria to other people by sharing respiratory and throat secretions (saliva or spit). Generally, it takes close (for example, coughing or kissing) or lengthy contact to spread these bacteria. Fortunately, they are not as contagious as germs that cause the common cold or the flu. People do not catch the bacteria through casual contact or by breathing air where someone with meningococcal disease has been.
Sometimes the bacteria spread to people who have had close or lengthy contact with a patient with meningococcal disease. Those at increased risk of getting sick include:
People in the same household
Roommates
Anyone with direct contact with the patient’s oral secretions, such as a kissing partner
Close contacts of someone with meningococcal disease should receive antibiotics to help prevent them from getting the disease. Experts call this prophylaxis (pro-fuh-lak-sis). This does not mean that the contacts have the disease; the antibiotics are given to prevent them from becoming ill. Health departments investigate each case of meningococcal disease to identify all close contacts and make sure they receive prophylaxis. People who are not a close contact of someone with meningococcal disease do not need prophylaxis.
The two most common types of meningococcal infections are meningitis and septicemia. Both of these types of infections are very serious and can be deadly in a matter of hours.
Meningococcal meningitis
Doctors call meningitis caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis meningococcal meningitis. When someone has meningococcal meningitis, the bacteria infect the lining of the brain and spinal cord and cause swelling.
Symptoms of meningococcal meningitis include fever, stiff neck, headache, confusion, increased sensitivity to light, and nausea and confusion.
The most common symptoms include:
Fever
Headache
Stiff neck
There are often additional symptoms, such as
Nausea
Vomiting
Photophobia (eyes being more sensitive to light)
Altered mental status (confusion)
Newborns and babies may not have the classic symptoms listed above, or it may be difficult to notice those symptoms in babies. Instead, babies may be slow or inactive, irritable, vomiting, feeding poorly, or have a bulging anterior fontanelle (the soft spot of the skull). In young children, doctors may also look at the child’s reflexes for signs of meningitis.
The two most common types of meningococcal infections are meningitis and septicemia. Both of these types of infections are very serious and can be deadly in a matter of hours.
Meningococcal septicemia (aka meningococcemia)
Doctors call septicemia (a bloodstream infection) caused by Neisseria meningitidis meningococcal septicemia or meningococcemia. When someone has meningococcal septicemia, the bacteria enter the bloodstream and multiply, damaging the walls of the blood vessels. This causes bleeding into the skin and organs.
Symptoms may include:
Fever and chills
Fatigue (feeling tired)
Vomiting
Cold hands and feet
Severe aches or pain in the muscles, joints, chest, or abdomen (belly)
Rapid breathing
Diarrhea
In the later stages, a dark purple rash
Over the past few days, several cases of patients with these symptoms have emerged from Galle Prison, and tragically, two inmates displaying these symptoms who were admitted to Karapitiya Hospital have passed away.
Yesterday (21), it was reported that two more patients are currently receiving inpatient care at Karapitiya Teaching Hospital.
Doctors at the hospital mentioned that one of these patients was hospitalized because they exhibited similar symptoms a few days after being released from prison.
Medical experts emphasize that meningococcal bacteria pose a greater threat to children and can be fatal for individuals with compromised health due to drug use.
As this bacterium is suspected to be responsible for the recent deaths of two inmates at Galle prison, doctors and healthcare personnel are advised to wear face masks while dealing with patients displaying such symptoms.
Causes
Bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis cause meningococcal disease. About 1 in 10 people have these bacteria in the back of their nose and throat without being ill. This is called being ‘a carrier.’ Sometimes the bacteria invade the body and cause certain illnesses, which are known as meningococcal disease.
Six serogroups (types) of Neisseria meningitidis — A, B, C, W, X, and Y —cause most disease worldwide
Spread to others
People spread meningococcal bacteria to other people by sharing respiratory and throat secretions (saliva or spit). Generally, it takes close (for example, coughing or kissing) or lengthy contact to spread these bacteria. Fortunately, they are not as contagious as germs that cause the common cold or the flu. People do not catch the bacteria through casual contact or by breathing air where someone with meningococcal disease has been.
Sometimes the bacteria spread to people who have had close or lengthy contact with a patient with meningococcal disease. Those at increased risk of getting sick include:
People in the same household
Roommates
Anyone with direct contact with the patient’s oral secretions, such as a kissing partner
Close contacts of someone with meningococcal disease should receive antibiotics to help prevent them from getting the disease. Experts call this prophylaxis (pro-fuh-lak-sis). This does not mean that the contacts have the disease; the antibiotics are given to prevent them from becoming ill. Health departments investigate each case of meningococcal disease to identify all close contacts and make sure they receive prophylaxis. People who are not a close contact of someone with meningococcal disease do not need prophylaxis.
The two most common types of meningococcal infections are meningitis and septicemia. Both of these types of infections are very serious and can be deadly in a matter of hours.
Meningococcal meningitis
Doctors call meningitis caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis meningococcal meningitis. When someone has meningococcal meningitis, the bacteria infect the lining of the brain and spinal cord and cause swelling.
Symptoms of meningococcal meningitis include fever, stiff neck, headache, confusion, increased sensitivity to light, and nausea and confusion.
The most common symptoms include:
Fever
Headache
Stiff neck
There are often additional symptoms, such as
Nausea
Vomiting
Photophobia (eyes being more sensitive to light)
Altered mental status (confusion)
Newborns and babies may not have the classic symptoms listed above, or it may be difficult to notice those symptoms in babies. Instead, babies may be slow or inactive, irritable, vomiting, feeding poorly, or have a bulging anterior fontanelle (the soft spot of the skull). In young children, doctors may also look at the child’s reflexes for signs of meningitis.
The two most common types of meningococcal infections are meningitis and septicemia. Both of these types of infections are very serious and can be deadly in a matter of hours.
Meningococcal septicemia (aka meningococcemia)
Doctors call septicemia (a bloodstream infection) caused by Neisseria meningitidis meningococcal septicemia or meningococcemia. When someone has meningococcal septicemia, the bacteria enter the bloodstream and multiply, damaging the walls of the blood vessels. This causes bleeding into the skin and organs.
Symptoms may include:
Fever and chills
Fatigue (feeling tired)
Vomiting
Cold hands and feet
Severe aches or pain in the muscles, joints, chest, or abdomen (belly)
Rapid breathing
Diarrhea
In the later stages, a dark purple rash
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