Students are being urged to make sure they have received the meningococcal meningitis vaccination after a confirmed case of the infection was reported.
According to a news release sent out to the student body, a 21-year-old female junior was confirmed on Friday to have meningococcal meningitis by Boulder Community Hospital and is now resting at Boulder Community Hospital. The student lived off campus.
“Meningococcal meningitis is a serious bacterial infection that causes infection of the tissue surrounding the brain and the spinal cord,” the release stated.
Donald Misch, the assistant vice chancellor for health and wellness and the director of Wardenburg, commented on the uncommonness of this infection and the causes of it.
“It’s not that common,” Misch said. “The reason you hear about it so much is that it rapidly progresses and people can die.”
He said that the best way to protect yourself from this infection is to have good personal hygiene and not share utensils, cigarettes, lip balm or anything of that sort.
There hasn’t been a case of meningococcal meningitis at CU Boulder since 2006. A 19-year-old male was confirmed then to have the meningococcal meningitis but was able to recover from the infection, according to the CU Independent archives.
Students are encouraged to get vaccinated to help prevent the infection.
“It doesn’t protect against all meningitis but it does against meningococcal meningitis,” Misch said..
The release said that everyone who has had contact with this female student have been informed.
“Last we heard, they got almost everyone,” Misch said. “They will keep working until they are sure they have gotten everyone and the danger of it is gone.”
The student is expected to recover from this infection.
Student interested the vaccination can go to Wardenburg Heath Center from 8:30-11 a.m. and from 1:30-4 p.m. during all weekdays. The vaccine costs between $14-$18.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Vanessa Harmoush at Vanessa.harmoush@colorado.edu.