
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 25, 1992                   TAG: 9203250355
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: GREG SCHNEIDER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FARMVILLE                                LENGTH: Medium

STUDENTS PICK JAB OVER MENINGITIS

It hurt, it cost as much as a compact disc and it meant waiting in line on a brilliant spring day - but hundreds of Longwood College students showed up Tuesday to get immunized against a potentially deadly disease that already has stricken two on campus.

Health workers jabbed 1,200 collegiate arms with the vaccine for meningococcal meningitis, a rare inflammation of the lining around the brain. Dozens of other students had to be turned away with the promise of more $16 vaccinations later in the week.

"It sounds as if we did a better job educating our students about the need than we did estimating the number that would turn up for the shots," said H. Donald Winkler, associate vice president for public affairs.

But the only education most students needed were the words "potentially fatal" and "contagious."

The latest case was diagnosed March 13, as most on campus readied to leave for spring break. Another Longwood woman got the disease in February.

While both women have recovered and the first is back at school, there are worse stories in campus lore. Lynchburg College had two cases last fall. Radford University had a fatal case of meningitis in February, around the time the first Longwood victim visited that campus. And earlier this month, a girl at a private Richmond high school died of meningitis.

Even in setting up Tuesday's mass immunization, health officials stressed that they saw no evidence of an outbreak but wanted to lessen the chance of morecases.

"I was on spring break in Key West when I found out," said Lisa Woods, a 21-year-old junior from Salem. "I was more concerned about the actual shot than anything else."

"My mom, I told her about it, and she was like, `Get the shot!' " chimed in Joi Berenger, a 21-year-old senior from Virginia Beach who went with Woods both to Key West and the inoculation.

"Yeah, I think it's kind of fun," said Berenger. "And I figure I can get out of gymnastics class because my arm hurts."

But while off-campus students protested outside because they hadn't been notified, and others complained about having to pay for something so necessary, a few cavalier souls avoided the scene entirely.

"I'm not really concerned. I don't know, I'm a lucky guy," said Mike Klepper, a 19-year-old sophomore from New Jersey slouching in a chair outside the campus cafeteria. "I heard about the [informational] meeting last night, but I was too busy. I had more important things to do."

Like what?

"Hang out."

\ MENINGITIS

What is it: An inflammation of the lining around the brain. Can be caused by a virus or bacteria. Recent Virginia cases are bacterial.

How it spreads: Direct contact with the saliva of an infected person, often by kissing or sharing foods.

Symptoms: Fever, headache, nausea and stiff neck - much like those of the common flu.

Treatment: Rifampin, an antibiotic. Can be prevented with a vaccine, Menomune.

Prognosis: If treated quickly, meningitis is relatively easy to cure. Otherwise it can be fatal; about 10 percent of those who contract the disease die.

Occurrence: 19 cases recorded in Virginia this year, said Dr. Carl Armstrongof the state Health Department. That's on target for an average year of 70 cases.

- Source: State Health Department

by CNB