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Meningitis kills employee, state tightens regulations

January 8, 2001

State lab workers are working under stricter regulations when studying meningococcal bacteria - the organism that causes meningitis.

The move comes after Department of Community Health employee Linda Reese died Christmas Day after she was infected by a meningitis bacteria sample that she had been working on. The sample was from communication sophomore Tricia Zailo, who died Dec. 18 in New Jersey.

Zailo had carried the meningitis bacteria in an ear, but died of other causes.

The organism can be carried without harm to some people, but also can lead to a potentially deadly infection that inflames the lining surrounding the brain and spinal chord.

“Normally the meningitis organism is not considered a high-level organism to work with,” said Geralyn Lasher, a spokeswoman for the Department of Community Health.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines do not require lab workers use gloves or masks when handling the bacteria. However, state workers will now be required to use such precautions, although it’s not clear whether Reese had done so, Lasher said.

The department will also now offer vaccinations against the bacteria to workers. However, Lasher said the vaccine does not protect against all types of the bacteria and does not provide lifetime protection.

MSU vaccinated 16,000 students against the bacteria in 1999 after a student was hospitalized with a strain of the bacteria. The university now also recommends all incoming students be vaccinated against the meningitis organism.

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