(PCM) There have been quite a few headlines recently about the deaths of college students related to an outbreak of meningitis on their college campuses. Recently, a Philadelphia student from Drexel University has died from the same strain of meningitis that was seen in a recent outbreak at Princeton University in New Jersey.
The CDC released a statement saying that the Drexel University student died from Meningitis B and it was revealed that the student may have had close contact with students from Princeton University about a week before coming down with the illness.
The vaccine has been approved for use in Europe, Canada and Australia, but it is not yet approved for use in the United States. The CDC and the FDA granted special approval for the vaccine to be distributed at Princeton.
Despite the fact that Princeton University students were given an unlicensed meningitis vaccine, CDC officials are still worried that the disease may still be present on the Princeton University campus given the recent Drexel Hill student’s death.
Meningitis is spread through coughing, sneezing and kissing. It will also spread when people forget to wash their hands or clothes, or among people who drink out of the same cup making the college campus and dormitories the perfect breeding ground the disease to spread.
University communities across the nation are encouraging their students to engage in good health practices to prevent the spread of this horrible disease. Many students who become infected with meningitis may be under the impression that they have come down with a bout of the flu, as the early symptoms are fever, headache, stiff necks, vomiting and delirium.
If left untreated the bacteria spread and can cause hearing loss, permanent neurological damage and death.
