Public health authorities in
the Emilia Romagna region said Tuesday they have activated a
bacterial meningitis prevention protocol after a 19-year-old
Italian woman died of the brain infection in Vienna on her way
back from Catholic World Youth Day (WYD) in Krakow.
Local health officials said public health clinics are
providing prophylactic treatment and doctors are on hand to
answer questions from anyone returning from the week-long event
in Poland.
The victim was from Rome and it is unlikely Emilia Romagna
youth came into close contact with her group, local authorities
said.
The members of the group with which she attended the WYD
have all been treated, and the Vienna hospital where she died
has called on anyone who was at Italy House in Krakow, which was
the headquarters for the CEI youth pastor program, to seek
treatment.
Italy was present at the WYD that ran through July 25-31 in
Krakow with 486 parish groups from across the country, and a
total of 76,883 pilgrims.
Bacterial meningitis is highly contagious and can be
rapidly fatal if left untreated. It is vaccine-preventable.
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