February 2, 2011

Suspected Meningitis Case at U of I No Cause for Alarm

The Idaho North Central Health District is working with officials from the University of Idaho to identify close contacts with a student suspected of having bacterial meningitis. Bacterial meningitis can be a very serious disease that causes a swelling of the tissues covering the brain and spinal cord. Still, the risk of close contacts contracting the disease is low, and extremely low for the general student population.

Concerned parents of University of Idaho students should urge their children to use good hygiene to curb the potential spread of this disease and all others. Students should cover the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and avoid sharing common items like eating utensils and drinking cups.

The Meningococcal vaccine is normally given during routine pre-adolescent immunization visits, typically at age 11 or 12. If a child did not get the vaccine at that time, a catch-up dose can be given any time after. The vaccine is also recommended for college freshman living in dormitories and for U.S. military recruits. The student health center at the U of I and private health care providers should be able to provide the vaccine.

If a student is showing signs of Meningitis, such as headache, fever, stiff neck, vomiting, mental confusion or dullness, rash, muscle tenderness and shock, he should seek medical attention immediately.

For more information on meningitis and the vaccine for it visit our website.