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The first vaccine designed to preclude a common character of bacterial meningitis has been approve for use in the United States .
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) announced today that it hasapproved Trumenba , which is made by a subsidiary of Pfizer called Wyeth Pharmaceuticals . The vaccinum is intended to prevent a life - threatening disease make byNeisseria meningitidisserogroup B. This type of bacteria has been fault for recentmeningitisoutbreaks on college campuses , including an irruption at Princeton University that was linked to the death of a youthful woman in Philadelphia .
" Recent irruption of serogroup B Meningococcal disease on a few college campus have intensify concern for this potentially deadly disease , " Karen Midthun , director of the FDA ’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research , said in a statement . " The FDA ’s favourable reception of Trumenba provides a good and effective way to help forestall this disease in the United States . " [ 5 Dangerous Vaccination myth ]
The bacteriaN. meningitidisis a leading campaign of bacterial meningitis , but until now , thevaccinesapproved for function in the United States overlay only four of the five main serogroups , or types , ofN. meningitidis : A , C , Y and W. These vaccinum did not protect against serogroup B.
Meningococcal disease is cause by bacteria that infect the bloodstream and cause fervor in the tissue that lines the brain and spinal cord . The bacteria is transmitted from person to person through respiratory and throat secernment , such as saliva , that are share during close link , kiss , cough and sharing utensils . Symptoms include fever , headache , nausea , vomiting and a steadfast cervix .
Meningococcal disease seems to mostcommonly strike teensand new adults — particularly those living in close quarters . That ’s why eruption are vulgar on college campus .
Last year , outbreaks of meningitis began at both Princeton University in New Jersey and the University of California , Santa Barbara . Both were caused byNeisseria meningitidisserogroup B. One bookman who became ill at Santa Barbara had to have both of his feet amputated . A student at Drexel University in Philadelphia died after becoming infect with the Princeton pains of the bacteria ; before the onset of her illness , she had had close liaison with students from Princeton , harmonize to the New Jersey Department of Health .
Last year , the FDA allowed a different , still unapproved vaccine call Bexsero ( made by the drug company Novartis ) to be administer to assist control outbreaks at Princeton and Santa Barbara . The new approve drug , Trumenba , went through an accelerated approval outgrowth , FDA officials say . The agency said it reviewed the drug ’s safety and effectiveness in well under six months .
