Kolkata, August 18: The Eastern Command of the Indian Army’s Spear Corps conducted a special vaccination campaign at the Punglwa Military School in Nagaland on Monday. This initiative aimed to immunize against meningococcal meningitis.
During the campaign, a dedicated medical team vaccinated 678 students and staff members. The process included medical examinations, consultations, and post-vaccination monitoring. The Corps reported on social media platform X that no adverse reactions were observed.
This initiative follows an advisory issued by Nagaland’s Health and Family Welfare Department earlier this month. The advisory urged all residential schools, hostels, and educational institutions in the state to remain vigilant for symptoms of meningococcal disease.
The advisory was prompted by a suspected case of meningococcal disease in a 14-year-old boy, who was admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at CHISR Hospital on August 2. He exhibited symptoms such as fever, vomiting, low blood pressure, altered consciousness, and abnormal posturing, which later progressed to rapidly spreading skin lesions.
The department reported that the boy’s condition remains critical, requiring invasive mechanical ventilation, vasoactive support, and intensive care. His treatment is currently focused on septic shock and purpura fulminans, with suspicion of invasive meningococcal disease (meningococcemia) pending microbiological confirmation.
While this disease is not common, it can spread rapidly among individuals living in close quarters, such as hostels and dormitories. The advisory emphasizes the need for early identification, prompt reporting, and immediate public health action to prevent the disease from spreading.
Meningococcal disease is caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. It can manifest as meningitis (infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord) or septicemia (blood infection). The government has stated that both conditions can be fatal if not treated promptly.
According to the advisory, the disease spreads through respiratory droplets and prolonged close contact, including coughing, sneezing, or sharing utensils, water bottles, and cigarettes. Students, staff, hostel wardens, and healthcare providers are advised to monitor for symptoms such as sudden high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, vomiting, light sensitivity, lethargy or confusion, seizures, and red-purple rashes that do not fade under pressure, as well as signs of shock in severe cases.
The advisory also recommends that anyone exhibiting these symptoms should be sent immediately for medical evaluation and treatment at the nearest health center. With this vaccination drive, students and staff at the military school are now safeguarded against this potentially deadly disease.
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