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Hollywood Gay Man Dies of Bacterial Meningitis
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A 33-year-old West Hollywood man who felt sickened by bacterial meningitis earlier this week has died amid warnings to sexually active gay men about the deadly strain of illness, officials said. Brett Shaad had his father at his side when he was taken off life support Friday afternoon, said West Hollywood Councilman John Duran. Duran, who saw Shaad last weekend, described the openly gay man as being “robust and healthy” prior to Monday, when he began to feel sick. On Wednesday, he went into the emergency room.
By Thursday, he was in a coma. His family took him off life support about 4:45 p.m. Friday, Duran said. Earlier Friday, officials warned sexually active gay men to beware of the potentially deadly health threat because Shaad’s case was detected in Los Angeles County. Tests were being done to see if the strain of illness is similar to the meningococcal infections that circulated among gay men in New York City and infected 22 people, resulting in seven fatalities, since 2010. “We don’t want to panic people,” West Hollywood Councilmember John Duran said.
“But we learned 30 years ago the consequences of delay in the response to AIDS.” The illness could be spread by sex and kissing but not by casual contact. Shaad attended a major party for the gay community in Palm Springs the weekend of March 30, Duran said. The White Party attracts thousands of partygoers from all over the country for dancing and revelry. At least one local business, Equinox health club in West Hollywood, confirmed Shaad visited their facility on April 6.
Equinox executive Jack Gannon said the clubs are always rigorously cleaned, and the notification was sent to members only to “ensure them of the safety of our club.” Symptoms typically develop within three to seven days of exposure and can include stiff neck, fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to light and an altered mental state, often confusion. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say catching the illness isn’t always a death sentence, but bacterial meningitis is usually severe.
Those who survive might suffer serious complications including brain damage and hearing loss. In the U.S., about 4,100 cases of bacterial meningitis, including 500 deaths, occurred between 2003 and 2007, the CDC reports. Duran said he plans to introduce an urgency item on Monday to appropriate $20,000 for vaccines, for those who can’t afford them otherwise.
“I think the county health department is dragging its feet and we don’t have the luxury of waiting,” said Duran. The city is also partnering with gay advocacy groups to raise awareness by posting notices in West Hollywood gyms. “For a lot of our younger community members, 35 and under, this is the first time they’ve lost a friend who is young and healthy,” Duran said. “A lot of us over 40 are having déjà vu, having lived through the AIDS epidemic.”
Posted by Admin
on April 13, 2013. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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mambala
April 13, 2013 at 3:41 pm
if this disease is spreading among gay, please let it wipe them off quickly. We are tired of hearing there sickening behaviour and demands of human rights..instead of changing their ways they want to propagate gayism. LET THEM PERISH WITH THEIR WAYS AND LEAVEUS IN PEACE
t b jo
April 13, 2013 at 3:45 pm
Good. The anus is meant for removin waste products from our bodies not for sex. Ba fikala in this habit mukala fwa.
joseph
April 13, 2013 at 4:10 pm
Their marriages are not even in the bible,let them get wiped out.
Ba game
April 13, 2013 at 4:11 pm
wow! wow! wow!, lets hope this desease will wipe out all sewergerz attendants(gays)
maikalange
April 13, 2013 at 4:40 pm
Balekwingisha mu mafi thats why,you were prone to all sorts of diseases,anyway may yr soul find peace after all you have yr final judge.rip
www.sly-j.com
April 13, 2013 at 5:31 pm
Human beings?or human beans?
wonder
April 13, 2013 at 5:58 pm
For people who claim to be Christian, I find people whp comment on these post extremely judgemental.
Your views are very sheltered and I think the mentality is very insular. I really wonder where this nation is heading with such backwardness.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
kawayo
April 13, 2013 at 7:17 pm
What good do u expect to find in the anus ? The ass was meant 4 waste removing not for sexual enjoyment.
Stigma
April 13, 2013 at 7:27 pm
why is it that all the zambian news sites are full of sewer-related (gay) news! are equally paid to publish such nonsense? each time u open any site there is a screaming headline about gays. find beta news
Alfred
April 13, 2013 at 7:58 pm
@ “Bacterial Mengitis” only FAGGOTS can understand those terms, hard luck guys.
kakolwe
April 14, 2013 at 5:44 am
My earnest hope is that no other human goes through such suffering due to wrong choises. So we will hear these activists say ‘even straights die of HIV!’ Bushilu, These are natural warning shots
Mule
April 14, 2013 at 7:41 am
Let the disease spread and cover the whole world so that the gays can face gradual extinction. Better solution to the nuisense
Sheep Skin
April 14, 2013 at 11:16 am
Remember Gomorrah and Sodom in the bible?. Homosexuals were there and God saw that it was not right and he set it on fire. That s the “Bacterial Meningitis”is the present day fire. Believe in God and do the right thing