Emilia Romagna activates meningitis

(ANSA) - Bologna, August 2 - 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.