Spring Break
2 sick with bacterial meningitis
By: Samantha Ringmacher & Matt Dunnam
Issue date: 10/2/07 Section: News
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"We have no idea at this point, all we have are the two students that apparently contracted it and really have fairly limited information from them as far as how they have contracted it," said Dean Bresciani, vice president for student affairs.
Student Health Services is providing free immunizations to people who feel they have been exposed to the disease.
Bresciani said University officials are trying to discover where the students contracted the disease and have interviewed one student.
"One of the activities he was involved with was the off-campus bonfire. And what we are doing is we are trying to notify everyone involved with the settings they were in and would have had direct contact with them," he said.
Bresciani said that as a preventative measure, those who have been in close contact with the students are encouraged to go to Student Health Services to seek advice on an appropriate next step.
"The majority of people on campus had no direct contact with these individuals and are not at risk, but at the same time this is a disease that is not at all uncommon in university settings. Even at new student orientations we encourage students to go to the student health center and receive medical interventions as far as preventative measures, and we certainly do that now because we have a far more immediate situation we are dealing with," said Bresciani.
A doctor from Beutel visited Walton Hall to give information on safety precautions, said Barry Morris, a senior Red Pot for off-campus bonfire.
"We are putting something on our website to encourage people [to get vaccinated], and be aware of the current condition. We want everyone to be up to date on their shots," Morris said.
Andrew Dale, Student Health Services chief of staff, said that bacterial meningitis is not as transmittable as other upper respiratory infections. It is transmitted through exchanging of saliva, so sitting in class with an infected person does not carry a substantial risk.
He said that many people get exposed and do not contract it, but most people affected are under mental and/or physical stress. Getting adequate rest, exercise and eating right keeps the immune system healthy.
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