We wanted to make you aware that a female undergraduate Lehigh student who lives on campus is suspected of having a bacterial meningococcal infection. We are awaiting the results of medical tests, and she is currently being treated at St. Luke's Hospital.
We have already contacted individuals who have been in close contact with
the student in order to make them aware of the potential risk of exposure
and provide them with prophylactic antibiotics. The ill student attended a
party at Theta Chi on Tuesday, November 15th. If you attended this event
and drank out of a cup that may have been used by others, please come to
the Health Center for consideration for preventative medicine.
Students who have been in close contact to a person ill with meningococcal
disease should take preventive antibiotics even if they have been
vaccinated, as they may still be susceptible to the illness.
Please note that this disease is typically spread only through close
contact such as shared saliva, or prolonged contact with a person who is
infected. It is not spread through casual contact, such as being in the
same classroom or eating in the same dining hall. Infectious disease
experts do not recommend treatment for people with casual or random
exposure.
Some common early symptoms of meningococcal meningitis include fever,
severe sudden headache, lethargy, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting and rash. It
is extremely important to seek medical attention if you do have these
symptoms.
The Lehigh University Health Center will be open until 10 p.m. this evening
(Thursday, November 17th) and again beginning 8:15 a.m. on Friday, November
18th. Any students who need medical attention after the Health Center has
closed should call Campus Police at 610-758-4200.
Additional information about the disease can be found at
www.lehigh.edu/health or on the website of the Centers for Disease Control
at http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/about/faq.html
Questions can also be directed to the Health Center at 610-758-3870 or by
email at inluhc@lehigh.edu
Susan C. Kitei, M.D.
Director, Health and Wellness Center
We have already contacted individuals who have been in close contact with
the student in order to make them aware of the potential risk of exposure
and provide them with prophylactic antibiotics. The ill student attended a
party at Theta Chi on Tuesday, November 15th. If you attended this event
and drank out of a cup that may have been used by others, please come to
the Health Center for consideration for preventative medicine.
Students who have been in close contact to a person ill with meningococcal
disease should take preventive antibiotics even if they have been
vaccinated, as they may still be susceptible to the illness.
Please note that this disease is typically spread only through close
contact such as shared saliva, or prolonged contact with a person who is
infected. It is not spread through casual contact, such as being in the
same classroom or eating in the same dining hall. Infectious disease
experts do not recommend treatment for people with casual or random
exposure.
Some common early symptoms of meningococcal meningitis include fever,
severe sudden headache, lethargy, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting and rash. It
is extremely important to seek medical attention if you do have these
symptoms.
The Lehigh University Health Center will be open until 10 p.m. this evening
(Thursday, November 17th) and again beginning 8:15 a.m. on Friday, November
18th. Any students who need medical attention after the Health Center has
closed should call Campus Police at 610-758-4200.
Additional information about the disease can be found at
www.lehigh.edu/health or on the website of the Centers for Disease Control
at http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/about/faq.html
Questions can also be directed to the Health Center at 610-758-3870 or by
email at inluhc@lehigh.edu
Susan C. Kitei, M.D.
Director, Health and Wellness Center