“We haven’t seen cases in a few years,” Moorer said. “We highly recommend vaccines. They don’t cover all types, but they certainly help.”

During 1996 and 1997, the health center treated three meningitis cases, but did not see enough to be considered an outbreak, Moorer said.

People close to 19-year-old Western Michigan freshman Joseph Metzelaars, who died Wednesday, were immediately vaccinated, said Cheryl Roland, executive director of university relations at Western Michigan.

“Meningitis is a very difficult disease to transmit, but college is a place where it can be more easily passed with all the students packed into residence halls,” Roland said.

An autopsy and other tests could not determine a cause of death, Roland said.

“This was a very tragic case, but also a reminder that students and families need to take the vaccinations seriously,” Roland said.

Lansing Urgent Care has seen one potential meningitis case this year, said Nicole Szynski, the center’s medical assistant.

“It’s pretty normal not to see many cases,” Szynski said.

Symptoms of meningitis include vomiting, nausea, headaches and a sore neck.

Students exhibiting meningitis symptoms should receive medical attention, Moorer said, although other diseases are characterized by similar conditions.

“It does mimic the flu,” Moorer said. “The difference is usually stiff neck and vomiting. Influenza doesn’t usually consist of vomiting.”

Two types of meningitis, bacterial and viral, differ in their level of severity, Moorer said.

“Bacterial meningitis moves quickly and can be fatal,” she said. “Viral isn’t as severe.”

The disease is passed through saliva, and is most commonly transmitted when individuals kiss or drink out of the same glass, Roland said.