Meningitis

College students are at an increased risk for meningococcal disease, a potentially fatal bacterial infection commonly referred to as meningitis. In fact, first-year students living in residence halls are found to have a six-fold increased risk for the disease. The American College Health Association recommends that college students, particularly first-year students living in university housing, learn more about meningitis and vaccination. At least 70% of all cases of meningococcal disease in college students are vaccine preventable. Many states have recently passed legislation mandating vaccine for first-year students living in residence halls. On July 28, 2002, the Pennsylvania Governor signed legislation (Senate Bill 955) which requires all students residing in university housing either have the vaccine or sign a declination statement after review of written information concerning the benefits of receiving the meningitis vaccine.

Important Information

What is Meningococcal Meningitis?
Meningitis is rare. But, when it strikes, this potentially fatal bacterial disease can lead to swelling of membranes surrounding the brain and spinal column as well as severe and permanent disabilities, such as hearing loss, brain damage, seizures, limb amputation and even death.

How does it spread?
Meningococcal meningitis is spread through the air via respiratory secretions or close contact with an infected person. This can include coughing, sneezing, kissing or sharing items like utensils, cigarettes and drinking glasses.

What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of meningococcal meningitis often resemble influenza and can include high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, rash, nausea, vomiting, lethargy and confusion.

Who is at risk?
Certain college students, particularly first-year students who live in residence halls, have been found to have an increased risk for meningococcal meningitis. Pennsylvania law now requires all students living in university-owned housing to become vaccinated against meningitis or to sign a waiver declining vaccination after reading information about it.

Can it be prevented?
Yes. A safe and effective vaccine is available to protect against four of the five most common strains of the disease. (Menomune, the meningitis vaccine, protects against Groups A, C, Y and W-135, which account for 60-70% of all cases in the college age group. The vaccine does not protect against Group B, which accounts for 35-40% of illness in college students.)

For more information about meningitis and the vaccine, visit the Student Health Service or call 570-577-1401. You can also visit the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo and the American College Health Association, www.acha.org