Disease trackers from the CDC are working with the Boston Public Health Commission's Infectious Disease Bureau to handle clusters of meningococcal disease, which has killed two local homeless people and sickened three others, according to The Boston Globe.
Anita Barry, MD, director of the Infectious Disease Bureau, says the CDC dispatched disease trackers to Boston because the federal agency is currently working on updating their guidelines for handling the deadly bacterial infection.
The CDC defines meningococcal disease as any illness that is caused by the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria, also called meningococcus. Often times, illnesses resulting from the bacteria are severe and include infections of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, as well as bloodstream infections.
"They're thinking if they look a little more closely at what's going on in Boston, it might give more useful information," Dr. Barry told the Globe.
Although no new illnesses have been reported since March 4, the city has extended a vaccination campaign in adult homeless shelters indefinitely, according to the report. Thus far, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program has administered more than 2,400 vaccines and has provided antibiotics to numerous individuals known to have had close contact with those who had been ill.
More articles on meningococcal infections:
Homeless man's death spurs vaccination campaign in Boston
CDC identified administration errors with vaccine for meningococcal disease
ACIP updates vaccine schedule for HPV, pneumococcal disease and meningitis