UNT sophomore infected with bacterial meningitis in critical condition

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Disease strikes student

UNT sophomore infected with bacterial meningitis in critical condition

09/25/2001

By Tom y / Staff Writer

A University of North Texas student is in critical condition at a Dallas

hospital with an infectious strain of bacterial meningitis.

Lydia M. , 19, a sophomore political science major from Fort Worth, was

taken by CareFlite to a Dallas hospital after being taken to Denton Community

Hospital about 6 a.m. Saturday.

She attended a Pi Beta Phi Sorority event Friday with about 350 other students.

The university is attempting to make contact with those who attended the event

and who attend classes with Ms. .

" Ordinarily, we would not release the name of the student, but because this is a

health and safety issue, we're going ahead so anybody who might have had contact

with her can get the appropriate treatment if it is deemed necessary, " said

Roddy Wolper, UNT media spokesman.

Hospital officials confirmed Monday that Ms. remained in critical

condition.

A news release from the university said that Ms. has been diagnosed with

meningococcal meningitis, the most common form of bacterial meningitis. The

strain sometimes occurs in small epidemics but more frequently occurs in

isolated cases, said Bing Burton, director of the Denton County Health

Department.

" It's not uncommon at all to have just one case, " Dr. Burton said. " It's seldom

clear exactly where the case came from. "

The infection is spread from person to person by direct contact with infected

individuals - for example, sharing a glass or cigarette, or kissing - or from

droplets of respiratory tract secretions spread by coughing or sneezing.

Health officials say the incubation time for the disease is usually three to

five days, but may be as long as 14 days. Symptoms are similar to those of

influenza and include fever, chills, severe headache, stiff neck, rash, nausea,

vomiting and lethargy. The infection can lead to permanent disabilities, such as

hearing loss and brain damage, or in extreme cases, death.

UNT has scheduled a special vaccination session from 1 to 7 p.m. Thursday in the

university's Coliseum, Gate A. The cost for the vaccination is $90. A

vaccination is not a treatment for the disease, but provides protection for up

to five years. Students who need financial assistance to pay for the vaccination

should contact the dean of students' office.

The university also will hold the Meningitis and Flu Immunization Outreach

Program, which was originally scheduled for October, on Thursday.

Students are urged to contact UNT's Student Health and Wellness Center at (940)

565-4559 to obtain more information about meningococcal meningitis.

Health officials say there are about 3,000 cases of meningococcal disease a year

in the United States, including about 300 deaths.

In 2000, there were 146 reported cases of meningococcal disease in Texas, with

nine reported deaths, said Neil Pascoe, nurse epidemiologist for the Texas

Department of Health.

UNT reported one case of meningococcal meningitis in 1998 and another in 1997.

Also in 1997, a Denton High School junior died of the disease.