MEMORANDUM
TO: Texas A&M Students, Faculty & Staff
FROM: LtGen Joseph Weber, Vice President for Student Affairs
SUBJECT: Texas A&M Student Hospitalized for Bacterial Meningitis
A Texas A&M student has been hospitalized after being diagnosed as having contracted bacterial meningitis. According to state and national health officials, bacterial meningitis is a serious, potentially deadly disease that can progress extremely fast. This is the university’s only known active case at this time. The diagnosis has been confirmed by Public Health officials. The name and/or health status of the student are being withheld due to privacy laws.
Bacterial Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord and can be safely treated with antibiotics. Exposure to bacterial meningitis is through close personal contact with respiratory droplets. Activities such as kissing or sharing a drink or cigarette with the infected individual pose a higher risk of infection, while indirect contact through coughing, sneezing, or the spread of respiratory droplets onto surfaces that are touched by others and then brought to the nose or mouth pose a lower risk of infection.
The university has an extensive protocol for dealing with communicable diseases, one it has followed since becoming aware of the first reported case of meningitis, a disease that strikes about 3,000 Americans each year. Be assured that we are taking all prudent reaction and precautionary steps in these current reported cases, including the following:
- Classmates and faculty of the student have been notified directly of the situation and are being updated as new information becomes known.
- Student Health Services will consult with students who believe they might have been exposed and distribute antibiotics free of charge and without appointment to students who are determined to be at risk.
- Students who wish to lessen their risk of meningitis if there is future exposure can receive vaccine by visiting Student Health Services. The cost of the vaccine is $125 through Student Health Services.
- Faculty and staff should contact their local physician for information about antibiotics.
Symptoms of bacterial meningitis are high fever, headache and stiff neck. Early diagnosis and treatment are very important. If you experience any of these symptoms, even if you have been previously vaccinated, you are strongly encouraged to seek medical attention immediately.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends all students get a vaccination as part of college enrollment and university officials have conveyed that information during enrollment conferences. For more information, go to http://www.cdc.gov/ .
Questions and/or concerns should be directed to the Offices of the Dean of Student Life at 1.888.440.7345 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. After 5 p.m. additional questions about meningitis can be directed to Dial-A-Nurse at 979.458.8379. Additional information can be found on the Student Health Services website at http://shs.tamu.edu/news/meningitis.htm.
Tags: Bacterial Meningitis
Remember meningitis does not stop at the dorm room door. The state of Texas requires menigococcal vaccine upon entry to middle school and for those college freshmen living in dorms. However as we all know meningococcal meningitis does not stop at the dorm room door. All college freshmen need to be vaccinated.
I am the mother of an only child, Ryan, who died from of meningococcal meningitis & founder/executive director of Meningitis Angels. http://www.meningitis-angels.org .
What parents and students should know:
According to ACIP/CDC children ages (11) years, age 16 and catch up at college freshmen age should be vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis.
Knowing the early signs of meningitis & blood poisoning can improve detection of the disease & save lives? They are Unrelenting fever, leg pain, cold hands & feet & abnormal skin color can develop within (12 hours) after infection long before the more classic signs of the illness such as a rash, headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light and impaired consciousness.
Children in daycare & those of American Indian, Eskimo & African American heritage are at a higher risk for pneumococcal & HIB meningitis.
Visit the AAP, sound Advice on Vaccines: http://www.cispimmunize.org/fam/soundadvice.html
Help Stop Meningitis!
Please join our cause and feature on your face book page. http://apps.facebook.com/causes/103719/35941843?m=6d54c0aa
Visit http:www.Parent2Parentonmeningitis.com
I was under the understanding every student had to have the menigitis shot before they could enter college,(be assigned dorm room, etc)?
It is not mandatory that all students be immunized and at A&M freshman aren’t obligated to live in the dorms, so there are many students who have not been vaccinated in/around campus.
The chief concern to me is the vast number of college practices such as sharing drinks and cigarettes that can make something like Meningitis or staph spread like wildfire.
Particularly ‘beer pong’.
There is no telling how many kids share one cup in any given game, and if they travel to another party, they simply make themselves incredibly dangerous vectors, worse than a mosquito.
Peers, and anyone else, PLEASE use your own cup to play beer pong and if you can’t have your own cigarette, don’t share a drag. The buzz isn’t worth being put into a coma with such a terrible disease.