CITY HALL — The city's top health agency has extended a warning on a meningitis outbreak to all sexually active gay men, leading the city's first openly gay alderman to get vaccinated Friday.
"This is all about prevention," said Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) immediately after being vaccinated for invasive meningococcal disease by Health Commissioner Dr. Julie Morita. Tunney was the city's first openly gay alderman and just became chairman of the new LGBT Caucus in the City Council.
Tunney drew parallels with a similar outbreak a decade ago and and said it is essential to "get on top of this" potential epidemic "as early as possible."
Morita's Department of Public Health issued a statement Thursday evening recommending vaccinations for all men who have sex with other men. Earlier this month, the department issued a similar alert for gay men who are HIV positive and those who have "anonymous sex partners" to address what was called a "small outbreak."
According to the department, it has confirmed six cases of meningitis among gay men this month, resulting in one death. Five of those cases involved Chicago residents, and a potential seventh case was being monitored.
Morita people could receive a readily available vaccination for invasive meningococcal disease.
"The vaccine is highly effective," Morita said Friday outside the Howard Brown Health Center, 4025 N. Sheridan Rd., where she inoculated Tunney as both joined in issuing the public health warning.
They pointed out the vaccine is not effective for 10 to 14 days, with Pride Fest this weekend and the Pride Parade next weekend. "That's why we have this sense of urgency," Morita added.
"We really have to be respectful of each other and also of our own personal health," Tunney said. He urged the gay community to "be as proactive as possible" and "err on the side of caution," adding, "Let's get this vaccination done as early as possible."
"It is a very serious disease, and a high percentage of people who get it will end up hospitalized and can actually die," Morita said. Yet she counseled calm and prevention.
"There is a safe and effective vaccine available," Morita said. "We are working with our partners to help stop the spread of disease, and we encourage anyone who is at risk to protect themselves and others by getting vaccinated."
The disease, she said, is spread not necessarily through sex, but through the exchange of saliva as in kissing. Thus, according to Morita, it can also be spread by sharing drinks or cigarettes. The department has also put out a fact sheet on the disease.
Symptoms include fever, headache and a stiff neck. The department advised: "Some people may experience nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to light and altered mental status or confusion."
The incubation period following exposure is two to 10 days before symptoms appear. The Health Department urged people reporting symptoms to seek treatment.
Earlier this week, the Brown Health Center reported the city department had confirmed that the reported cases "disproportionately" affected African-American men. The center was joined by Affinity Community Services and the Chicago Black Gay Men's Caucus in publicizing the need for inoculation.
Yet Morita insisted the disease was blind to race. "We don't want this message to be limited to just African-Americans," she said. "Our recommendation is for all men who have sex with men — all gay and bisexual men — to get this vaccine."
The department on Thursday "expanded the recommendation to protect all at-risk individuals."
"The sooner the better that you get inoculated, the safer our city will be for everyone," Tunney said.
The department recommended that sexually active gay men get inoculated through a doctor or clinic and has put out a list of meningococcal vaccine locations, but also announced several vaccination locations, beginning with this weekend's Pride Festival.
Vaccines will be available at the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., from 1-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The University of Illinois at Chicago's Community Outreach Intervention Projects van also will deliver vaccines at Jackson Park from 4-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The van will return to Jackson Park from 4-7 p.m. June 27, and vaccines also will be available at Montrose Rocks, an annual HIV-testing event being renamed Pride on Montrose, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. June 28 at Cricket Hill.
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