A Vanderbilt University student is being treated for meningococcal bacterial meningitis at Vanderbilt Medical Center after being brought to the medical center’s Emergency Department overnight. She was in stable condition.
The 19-year-old first-year student was admitted to the hospital around midnight Monday after she experienced a severe headache, rash and high fever.
Meningococcal bacterial meningitis is a relatively rare but life-threatening infection that is spread by close contact with an infected person. The Centers for Disease Control defines as “contact” intimate contact, such as kissing, or prolonged, close, face-to-face contact, as in the case of a roommate or teammate. “Casual” contacts in the classroom setting or as a spectator at an athletic event would not be considered high risk contacts. The risk of infection for those who have had contact can be greatly reduced by taking one tablet of the antibiotic Cipro. There are alternatives for those who are allergic to Cipro.
The university sent a campus-wide e-mail to all students, faculty and staff urging anyone who might have come in close contact with the student in the last week to visit the Student Health Center and Occupational Health Services to obtain preventive medication free of charge. The message also encouraged students who have had any contact with the student, and are concerned, to visit Student Health for preventive treatment.
The e-mail further explained that since the meningococcal vaccines do not cover all strains of disease, even those who have had the vaccine should receive the preventive medication if they have had close contact with the student. Vanderbilt is also working to retrace the student’s recent activities in order to make appropriate parties aware of the situation and is making personal contact with those who lived with the student on campus.
Media contact:Princine Lewis, 615-322-NEWS
princine.lewis@vanderbilt.edu