Meningitis confirmed in death of student

A 20-year-old UW–Madison student died early Tuesday morning at Meriter Hospital from a form of bacterial meningitis.

Sarah Gornick, a junior biochemistry major from St. Paul, was also a member of the women’s lightweight crew team. She was taken to Meriter Hospital by rescue officials at 2:21 a.m. Tuesday and after extensive emergency care was pronounced dead at 2:48 a.m.

Sarah Gornick

To learn more information about meningitis, view University Health Services’ web page for meningitis.

Blood tests conducted Wednesday by the Dane County Coroners Office confirmed the presence of meningococcal meningitis, according to Coroner Ray Wosepka. Meningococcal meningitis is a rare and serious bacterial form of the disease which can cause very grave illness or death, and requires early diagnosis and treatment.

“We are deeply saddened by Sarah’s death and send our condolences to her family and friends,” said UW–Madison Dean of Students Mary Rouse. “Sarah was a member of the UW crew team and a campus sorority, and all those who knew Sarah are mourning her loss.” Friends who are seeking counseling services can contact Rouse at 263-5702.

Dr. Scott Spear, a physician with University Health Services, said university health staff are identifying and contacting all persons in close contact with Gornick who may need preventive antibiotics. Meningitis is not highly contagious, he said, so the one-time antibiotic pill is given only as a preventive measure.

Spear stressed that preventive antibiotics are required only for people who have had intimate or direct exposure with a meningitis patient. Intimate or direct exposure includes kissing, sharing eating or drinking utensils, or by any contact to fluids from the body of the infected person.

“People who have not had this type of direct contact, such as friends and classmates, do not need to be worried,” Spear said.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord which can be caused by either viruses or bacteria. The meningococcal form is the most life-threatening strain of meningitis.

To learn more information about meningitis, click the “self care” icon on the University Health Services’ website at http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/home.html