Vol. 20, No. 1

Sept. 7, 2000

Student with bacterial meningitis improving

The 19-year-old University of Delaware junior who is being treated for bacterial meningitis at a hospital near her home in Maryland is improving and is now out of intensive care, according to Dr. Joseph Siebold, director of the UD's Student Health Services, who has spoken with the attending physician. The student came to Student Health Services in the early afternoon of Monday, Aug. 28, with symptoms including fever, chills and body aches. Later that afternoon, her parents came to the Newark campus and decided to take her home. During their trip, her condition worsened, and they took her to an area hospital. As a precautionary measure, about 50 students who had close contact with her at UD were treated early on Aug. 29 at Student Health Services with a one-time dose of antibiotics. Members of the campus community were notified early Tuesday morning with messages on student voice-mailboxes, the closed-circuit cable television system and UD sites on the World Wide Web. The incidence of meningitis outbreaks has risen on college campuses in the past five years, and some investigations suggest that the risk during these outbreaks of contracting the disease is increased by lifestyle behaviors that are common for many college students, such as active and passive smoking, bar patronage and excessive alcohol consumption. The disease is transmitted through direct contact with the patient's oral or nasal secretions (such as coughing or sneezing or sharing utensils), as well as direct household contact (eating or sleeping in the same dwelling). Because college students often live in close quarters, such as residence halls or fraternity/sorority houses, they have an increased risk of meningococcal disease. Outbreaks tend to peak in late winter and early spring but can occur any time school is in session. For the last several years, the University of Delaware has been providing information to students and their parents about meningococcal disease and recommending vaccinations against it, particularly during new student orientation. Student Health Services is providing a vaccine against certain forms of meningococcal disease at reasonable cost to UD students. In the past week, some 500 vaccinations have been administered. Vaccinations are available, by appointment, from 8 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m., Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, in Laurel Hall. Any students with concerns or questions should feel free to contact Student Health Services at 831-2226. Meningococcal disease is very serious and can result in disability or death, according to Dr. Siebold. The disease strikes about 2,600 Americans each year, leading to death in approximately 13 percent of the cases, which translates to more than 300 deaths annually. In 1996, there was one case of meningococcal pneumonia in a UD student, who was treated in a timely manner and recovered. In September 1999, a male student was treated for aseptic, or viral, meningitis and recovered. In an unrelated case the same month, a UD custodial technician died of meningococcemia, a serious blood-stream infection with the same bacteria that causes meningococal meningitis.