UA Meningitis
By:
Updated: April 17, 2007
Tuesday afternoon the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services informed the University Health Center of a case of bacterial meningitis contracted by a student.
Anyone who`s come into close contact with the infected individual runs the risk of contracting bacterial meningitis, but Health Center officials said there is no further risk of infection to students or faculty.
According to Mary Alice Serafini, Director of the University Health Center, bacterial meningitis often has flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, fever, and nausea.
Meningitis can be fatal. The illness causes inflammation of membranes around the brain and spinal cord.
Serafini would not say what the infected student`s current condition is, but said all close contacts of the student are receiving preventative treatment from the health center.
"We were asked if we could provide education to anybody who had close contact and if we could provide recommended treatment, so we`re in the process of doing that with individuals," she said.
If caught early enough, bacterial meningitis is treatable with antibiotics.
The University encourages all incoming students to get a meningitis vaccination.
