The federal officials have asked doctors and state health agencies to be more careful when they diagnose children because many of the kids aged under 5 can now be infected with the Haemophilus influenzae type B. This can happen because of a vaccine shortage which could only be resolved next year.

Haemophilus influenzae type B is a bacterium which is different from the flu virus. This type B can also cause death in children as is invades the lining of the brain, bloodstream or lungs. If kids get infected with it, they can easily get infected with meningitis, sepsis and pneumonia which lead to brain damage or death.

Michael Jackson, an epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, stated that there are several types of H. influenza, but the current vaccine only prevents type B. This type B was once the most common bacterium in children who used to develop meningitis. Still, the CDC had 40% lack of information when it came to various types of H. influenza.

Dr. Jackson stated that if there isn’t enough information about the other types of H. bacterium it is really difficult to know which one is type B, “which is the type we’re worried about, or another type that is not as concerning.” This shortage began at the end of last year when Merck recalled one million doses of H. vaccine because of a contamination concern.

The CDC officials are now encouraging the health departments to see what the other H. bacterium types are and report everything they find out.