Health Advisory Update (11/18 at 10:20 a.m.)

A female first year student who is suspected of having bacterial meningitis remains in the hospital today. The university reached out to a number of students last night and those that were in close contact with the student were treated at the University Health Center last night and provided with antibiotics as a precaution. 

The ill student attended a party at Theta Chi on Tuesday, Nov. 15th. If you attended this event and drank out of a cup that may have been used by others, please come to the Health Center for consideration for preventative medicine. Students who have been in close contact to a person ill with meningococcal disease should take preventive antibiotics even if they have been vaccinated, as they may still be susceptible to the illness.

Please note that this disease is typically spread only through close contact such as shared saliva, or prolonged contact with a person who is infected. It is not spread through casual contact, such as being in the same classroom or eating in the same dining hall. Infectious disease experts do not recommend treatment for people with casual or random exposure.

Some common early symptoms of meningococcal meningitis include fever, severe sudden headache, lethargy, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting and rash. It is extremely important to seek medical attention if you do have these symptoms. For information on symptoms, please visit the CDC web site.

Questions can also be directed to the Health Center at 610-758-3870 or by e-mail at inluhc@lehigh.edu.

Susan C. Kitei, M.D.
Director, Health and Wellness Center