A female MSU student has been diagnosed with meningococcemia, a disease similar to bacterial meningitis, university officials confirmed Friday.
The disease is a "very grave" illness, MSU spokeswoman Deb Pozega Osburn said. The student was taken to Sparrow Hospital, where she is staying in the intensive care unit.
University officials would not release the student's name, citing privacy concerns.
A community meeting was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday in Hubbard Hall, where the student, a journalism sophomore, lived on the ninth floor. Meningococcemia is a potentially fatal disease that infects the blood stream and inflames blood vessels. It can be transmitted from person to person by respiratory droplets and close contact. It occurs more frequently in winter and early spring. Family members and those closely exposed to the person are at an increased risk.
The symptoms of the disease are similar to bacterial meningitis, which causes an inflammation of the tissue around the brain and spinal cord, and is caused by the same meningococcus bacteria. Symptoms include fever, rash and other flu-like conditions.
"People get much sicker, much faster from this particular form of this bacteria," University Physician Beth Alexander said.
The student went to the hospital late Thursday and doctors tentatively confirmed Friday morning that she has been infected with the B strain of the meningococcus bacteria.
The infection is potentially fatal. Preventative antibiotics for family members of and those in close contact to a person with the disease often are recommended.
Alexander said people who were in close contact with the student have been notified.
Four of the five strains of the bacteria - A, C, Y and W135 - can be prevented by the meningitis vaccine. The vaccine does not protect against the strain the student is believed to have.
There have been six cases of meningitis on campus since 1996. Three students died from the disease.
Meningitis is contracted through the exchange of bodily fluids - practices such as kissing and sharing utensils or tooth brushes.
In January 2002, food service management graduate student Matthew Knueppel, 25, died of the C strain of bacterial meningitis.
In December 1996, economics junior Jeffrey Paga died of a type B strain infection and three months later landscape architecture junior Brian Anderson died of a type C strain infection.
In 1999, MSU distributed about 16,000 free vaccinations to students in response to music education senior Adam Busuttil's infection in October 1999. He later supported a failed effort to make the vaccine mandatory for college students in the state.
Olin Health Center officials recently announced they will begin tracking undergraduate students who haven't completed Olin's online Immunization Self-Report to let them know they won't be able to register for classes. Once the forms are submitted, students will be able to register.
Vaccinations, which cost $75-$85, are available at Olin Health Center and are effective for about three to five years.
Information about meningococcal disease is posted on the university's main information Web site, info.msu.edu, and is available on an MSU hotline at (888)MSU-ALERT or (517)432-5378.
Students with concerns or who need care can contact Olin Health Center at (517)353-5557.
