The death of a Los Angeles resident infected with meningitis is not related to other cases of the illness that have been reported across the country, Los Angeles County Health officials say.
Twenty-two meningitis infections were reported among gay men in New York City within the past few years, resulting in seven deaths. And after Brett Shaad, a 33-year-old lawyer, died from meningococcal meningitis earlier this month, many feared that the cases might be related.
But officials say that the strain of the infection that killed Shaad is different from the bacterial strain detected in New York.
"Public Health has not identified an other cases of meningococcal disease associated with this patient, nor identified any linkage between this patient and cases being reported in other areas of the country," the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said in a statement.
And although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health have not initiated a vaccination campaign for areas in the vicinity of Los Angeles, more than 3,000 people have already received vaccinations due to fear that the disease could spread to more people.
For those interested in receiving the vaccine, there are options in both Los Angeles and New York City that offer free injections.