UI student diagnosed with bacterial meningitis

MOSCOW, Idaho – University of Idaho administrators took preventative action Thursday after one student was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis a day earlier.

Dean of Students Bruce Pitman said university officials were provided preliminary information about the student’s condition Tuesday and the diagnosis was confirmed Wednesday morning. Pitman said the student, who has not been identified, was doing well given the situation.

The bacterial form of meningitis, which is an infection of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord, usually is severe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that there were about 4,100 cases of bacterial meningitis a year from 2003 to 2007 in the United States. About 500 people a year died from the sickness.

The university met with students to describe the symptoms, answer questions and ask for help in locating friends of the student.

Pitman said UI also sent a campus alert Wednesday evening to notify students of the situation and the symptoms. Symptoms of meningococcal infections include fever, severe headache, chills, stiff neck, confusion, nausea, vomiting, joint or muscle pain and a red or purple rash.

Students are encouraged to seek medical help as quickly as possible if they do develop any of the symptoms, Pitman said. He also recommended that students wash their hands, get plenty of sleep, cough into their sleeves and avoid classes if they are sick in an effort to curb the spread of sicknesses.