SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - A former guest at a downtown San Diego hostel was hospitalized last weekend with meningococcal disease, San Diego County health officials said Tuesday.
The 24-year-old patient may have exposed others who had close contact at the USA hostel on 726 Fifth Ave. The time of exposure was between July 4 and July 14.
“While meningococcal disease can be serious and deadly, it is not spread through casual contact,” said Sayone Thihalolipavan, M.D., M.P.H., County deputy public health officer. “The risk to anyone who was not in close contact to the person is minimal.”
More than two dozen at-risk people have been informed and provided preventative treatment with antibiotics, health officials said.
Meningococcal disease is spread through close contact like sharing glasses, smoking materials, or living in close quarters. It can take up to 10 days for symptoms to appear.
