Questions and answers about meningitis
What is bacterial meningitis?
Meningitis is an infection of the fluid of a person's spinal cord and the fluid that surrounds the brain.
How can you contract bacterial meningitis?
Most cases are not transmitted from another person. Many people carry this bacterium in their throat where it can live indefinitely without causing illness. However, on rare occasions the person's defenses fail and the bacterium enters the blood causing illness. Less frequently a person may acquire this infection from another person by direct contact with saliva through kissing or sharing of personal items, such as drinking glasses, utensils, smoking materials and possibly through shared food (such as taking a bite out of someone's sandwich). The bacteria only live outside the body for a few minutes.
This disease is not spread through casual contact like hand shaking or sitting next to someone.
What are the symptoms of bacterial meningitis?
Symptoms may resemble the flu, including high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, rash, nausea and vomiting.
Is there a vaccine available and where can I get it?
There is a vaccine available that may provide some immunity against the illness. If you would like to take this precaution against the disease, visit NAU's Fronske Health Center or contact the Coconino County Health Department or your medical provider.
Fronske Health Center makes the vaccine available during walk-in immunization hours Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8 to 11:30 a.m. and 2 to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 2 to 4:30 p.m. The cost is $123, and only one dose is required. Students can put the vaccine on their LOUIE account; they do not need money up front. They will have to check with Fronske to see if their health insurance will cover the cost.
Is the vaccination safe? Are there any adverse side effects?
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control, the vaccine, like any medication, could possibly cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of meningococcal vaccine causing serious harm is extremely small.
Was there another case of bacterial meningitis at NAU not too long ago?
Yes, NAU had a bacterial meningitis case in March 2007. It is highly unusual to have had another case. Of the 16 million college students in this country, there are only 100 to 125 cases reported in a year. It is not a highly contagious disease, which is why there are such a low number of cases per year.
How does this case relate to the suspected case from a local middle school?
Coconino County Health Department at this time does not believe there is any link between the two cases.
Are you notifying the classmates of the infected student?
We are notifying some of the student's classmates to determine if they might be considered close contacts. It is not spread through casual contact, and the bacteria only live outside the body for a few minutes. The meningococcal bacteria can be spread from person to person by direct contact with an infected person's saliva through kissing or sharing of personal items, such as drinking glasses, utensils, smoking materials and possibly through shared food (such as taking a bite out of someone's sandwich).
The vaccine is going to be mandated in the Arizona K-12 system starting at 11 years old. Why is the vaccine not mandated by the universities?
Although meningitis is a serious and life-threatening disease, it is relatively rare. The three Arizona universities provide educational information to incoming students and their parents about the risks of meningitis and the benefits of the vaccine. Because of the rarity of the disease and the expense of the vaccine, the university has left the decision to receive the vaccine to be made by the student and/or parents.
Where do I get more information?
For updates, go to the NAU home page at www.nau.edu, the Fronske Health Center web page or call the NAU call center at (928) 523-0007. The national Centers for Disease Control web site at www.cdc.gov also has information.
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