ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, March 19, 1996 TAG: 9603190101
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE
SOURCE: Associated Press
A University of Virginia student is being treated for spinal meningitis in an Atlanta hospital, the third case of meningitis at the university in this school year.
Health officials do not know whether the student was infected during a spring break stay in Atlanta or at UVa, Dr. James Turner, director of student health, said Monday. The student checked into the hospital Friday.
``It's not unheard of,'' Turner said of the three cases. ``But we remain puzzled by this.''
Student health workers will give antibiotics to the more than 40 other students who live in the sick student's dormitory.
A student was hospitalized in October and another in January after contracting the meningococcus bacteria. Health officials do not know whether the latest student contracted the bacteria from the same source.
The bacteria can cause a bloodstream infection called meningococcemia or a central nervous system infection called meningitis. Spinal meningitis is a potentially life-threatening infection that causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
According to Turner, 30-50 percent of college-age people who contract spinal meningitis have the meningococcus bacteria, which is spread through oral and nasal secretions.
LENGTH: Short : 36 linesby CNB