TodayShippensburg University student hospitalized for suspected meningitis
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Article RatingA Shippensburg University student was hospitalized and is receiving treatment for a suspected case of bacterial meningitis, according to university officials.
Amanda Staub, a graduate student at Shippensburg University, is in intensive care after being admitted to the hospital Saturday after going to the emergency room with symptoms associated with meningitis. Staub reportedly attended a campus ministry program May 15 with approximately 12 other people, but had minimal contact with the other members of the campus community prior to becoming ill, officials say.
All individuals at the university are aware of who may have had contact with her in the last several days or have been contacted by the university.
Shippensburg University recently held its graduation last Saturday, May 10.
The unversity says that any member of the campus community who may have been in close personal contact in the last three days with Staub to go to the Etter Health Center on campus for a screening, and if appropriate, to receive preventative medication. Other individuals who feel they may be at risk may also go to the center for screening.
Those who are no longer in the Shippensburg area and who are unable to go to the campus health center but feel it is necessary to be screened should contact their family physician or go to their local emergency room.
University administrators and health officials will continue to monitor the situation.
Meningitis is a condition in which there is inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord. The meningitis organism is dormant in approximately 5 percent to 10 percent of the general population. This organizsm normally cuases no problems but can flare up if an individual’s resistance system is down, such as during a cold or flu.
While the disease is contagious, it is only spread through close personal contact with an individual. it cannot be spread through casual contact or through simply being in the same room. The disease is spread similarly to an upper respiratory disease, that is through contact with bodily fluids when that person sneezes or coughs. It can also be spread through such things as sharing cups or utensils.
Information on the disease is available online at the following Web sites: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/meningococcal_g.htm”target=”_blank”>Centers for Disease Control and the http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/view.asp?A=171&Q=249126”target=”_blank”> Pennsylvania Department of Health.
