Meddlesome Meningitis

By Jennifer Palmberg
The Collegian

In order to attend any California based college there are certain vaccinations students must receive. These vaccinations include measles, mumps, rubella, the hepatitis B series and probably a few others. But the meningitis vaccination is not required.

On Aug. 30 of this year, National Public Radio broadcasted a report about the potentially fatal disease stating that it has been found on some Californian campuses, most often in the dorm system.

Meningitis means inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord. It is a tricky disease to detect because its symptoms mimic those of the common cold and flu. Symptoms include: severe headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to sunlight, fever, vomiting, drowsiness and rash. If it goes untreated for too long it can lead to seizures or death, according to the National Meningitis Association.

But meningitis is actually a rare disease even though there are at least 50 kinds of bacteria that can cause it. According to the NMA, about 10 percent of people already have the meningitis bacteria in their nose and throat.

It is mostly harmless because only those with weak immune systems run the risk of actually getting the disease passed into their bloodstream where it will affect them.

“We’ve never had a case on our campus,” said Diane Simmon, the nursing director at the Student Health Center. “But I have heard of it happening at other campuses though I don’t know which ones.”

Simmon said the disease is most common in areas like the dormitories because the close proximity of a large number of people makes the bacteria easy to spread.

Simmon said the Student Health Center does carry the vaccine and has administered it to about 80 students each year for the past few years. She said numerous students come in each year to learn more about the disease. Most are surprised to learn that there are viral and fungal strains of it too.

“The vaccine costs $75 and covers four different strains,” Simmon said. “We take appointments and walk-ins and require anyone who wants the shot to sign a consent form first. Most people get it as a preventative matter because the only way to test for it is to get a spinal tap.”

Simmon said that 20-30 students have received the vaccination already this fall and, although it’s not required, she encourages all students to get the immunization shot.