XPost: atl.general, rec.arts.movies.past-films, okinawa.misc   
   XPost: az.politics   
   From: sickos@atheism.org   
      
   Three men sickened during a meningitis outbreak in L.A.'s gay   
   community have died, the Los Angeles County Department of Public   
   Health said Thursday.   
      
   The department announced earlier this week that there have been   
   eight cases of invasive meningococcal disease in the county so   
   far this year. Four cases occurred in men who have sex with men.   
   On Thursday, officials said three of them had died, officials   
   said. The victims were 27 or 28.   
      
   Some of those sickened lived or socialized in West Hollywood and   
   North Hollywood, officials said.   
      
   The county will provide free vaccinations for patients without   
   health insurance, starting Thursday. Those interested can call   
   211 or visit the department's website to get a listing of   
   provider clinics.   
      
   Invasive meningococcal disease stems from a rare bacterial   
   infection that can spread to the blood, brain or spinal cord and   
   can affect the entire body -- sometimes causing death.   
      
   It is spread by close exposure to sneezing or coughing or direct   
   contact with saliva or nose mucus -- though it's less contagious   
   than influenza, the health department said.   
      
   Activities associated with risk for the illness include smoking,   
   close contact with an infected person such as kissing or sharing   
   beverages or cigarettes, and living in group settings for   
   prolonged periods.   
      
   Symptoms of the illness usually strike within five days of   
   exposure to the bacteria, and may include a high fever, stiff   
   neck, aversion to bright light and aches.   
      
   The bacterial strain most common in Los Angeles is covered by   
   the current meningitis vaccine. After outbreaks in recent   
   months, students at Princeton University in New Jersey and UC   
   Santa Barbara were offered access to another vaccine, not yet   
   approved for use in the U.S., to prevent a different form of the   
   disease.   
      
   http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-3-dead-in-meningitis-   
   outbreak-in-la-gay-community-   
   20140403,0,6444888.story#axzz2xsdOndYl   
      
          
      
   --- SoupGate-DOS v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)