Meningococcal disease likely cause of student death

A 20-year-old male UW–Madison student died Tuesday morning at Meriter Hospital from probable meningococcal disease.

The student lived off-campus. His name is being withheld to protect the privacy of his family.

Meningococcal disease is a rare and serious bacterial infection that can cause very grave illness or death, and requires early diagnosis and treatment.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of a member of our campus community,” says Dean of Students Luoluo Hong. “Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends at this time.”

The case does not present a health risk to members of the UW–Madison community, says Craig Roberts, epidemiologist at University Health Services (UHS).

UHS officials have identified and are contacting all persons who had been in close contact with the student and who may need preventative antibiotics. UHS coordinates the public health follow-up for infectious diseases diagnosed in UW–Madison students and will continue to closely monitor the situation.

Meningococcal disease is not highly contagious, so the one-time antibiotic pill is given only as a preventive measure, Roberts says. Roberts stressed that preventive antibiotics are required only for people who have had intimate or direct exposure with the infected person. Intimate or direct exposure includes kissing, sharing eating or drinking utensils, or by any contact to oral fluids of the infected person.

Resources are available for students and others interested in learning more about meningococcal disease. For more information, visit the UHS homepage at: http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/.

Students interested in speaking to someone at University Health Services about the disease, or for information about grief counseling, should call (608) 265-5600.