WVU treating students after suspected meningitis death
March 4, 2009 ·
More than 30 West Virginia University students have received antibiotic treatment to protect them from developing meningitis.
The students were determined to be at risk by WVU Student Health Services following the illness and subsequent death of 19-year-old Chelsea Kanatus from suspected bacterial meningitis. Kanatus was a WVU freshman from Stephens City, Va.
Dr. Jan Palmer, director of Student Health at WVU, says they believe they have found everyone who was exposed.
"We talked to people who have had significant exposure – friends, boyfriend, roommates, family,” Palmer said. “The people we’re treating might have shared drinking glasses, kissing, saliva sharing of any kind.”
WVU has been vaccinating students for meningitis for about two years. The student who died had received the vaccination, Palmer said.
The vaccine protects people from about 80 percent of the types of bacteria meningitis common in this age group, but there are some types that are not covered by the vaccine.
He says the symptoms are fever, headache, vomiting, stiff neck, and confusion. The symptoms can be confused with the flu, so Palmer says anyone with questions should seek medical attention.
Meningitis is a communicable disease, so people living in dorms, prisons and other closely-confined areas are more at risk.