Meningococcal disease is not preventable
I extend my sincere condolences to Mike Kepferle from Maryland on the devastating loss of his son to meningococcal disease (“Dieringer tragedy demands response,” ODE, Feb. 15). I understand that he would like to reach out to share information with parents here in Oregon.
It is very important to clarify that the meningococcal serogroup B infection that caused the death of Jill Dieringer was absolutely NOT a preventable illness. Serogroup B accounts for over 70 percent of cases of meningococcal disease in Oregon. The quadravalent meningococcal vaccine does not protect against Type B disease at all.
In the United States, invasive meningococcal infection is most common in infants (20 cases /100,000 per year). In Oregon since 1993, there have been 75 to 130 cases of meningococcal disease every year. There were only six cases that occurred in students attending four-year colleges (1.1 cases/100,000 per year).
Maryland had an attack rate in college dormitory residents that was three-fold greater (3.24 cases/100,000 per year) and also a very high rate of vaccine-responsive disease strains. Legislated mandatory vaccination may be a successful strategy in Maryland. Data suggest that vaccination is much less likely to be effective here.
ACIP is not recommending vaccination of all college freshmen or even of all college students living in residence halls at this time. Educate yourself about meningococcal disease. Ask your physician or health care practitioner for an individualized recommendation about immunization.

Helen Miller, M.D.

Eugene

Jell-O wrestling is our prerogative
It was with a great deal of sorrow that I read Jeremy Lang’s article last Monday (“ASUO hopefuls embark on 2001-02 campaigns,” ODE, Feb. 12).
Mr. Lang has made the assumption that the Eric & Brian Campaign for ASUO Executive is nothing more than a joke. Nothing could be further from the truth. While we have run an admittedly light-hearted campaign thus far, in no way should this invalidate our ideas for improving student life.
In a nutshell, our platform consists of three issues: The creation of a new scholarship fund from the student incidental fee, improvement of campus safety after dark and realizing the potential of every student to be a leader.
If we want to banish a few vampires on the side or settle Constitution Court disputes with Jell-O wrestling, well, that’s our prerogative. I guarantee it would make campus a more interesting place to live and study.
To clear up another misconception, Brian Boone is not a staff writer at the Oregon Commentator. He is an associate editor. Eric Qualheim is not affiliated with the Commentator at all, and like another candidate, he is a former employee of the Oregon Daily Emerald.
Our Web page, at gladstone.uoregon.edu/~equalhei/elec.html, offers a complete look at our platform.
We would like to encourage everyone to examine our ideas before the election Feb. 26.

Eric Qualheim

sophomore


journalism