7th Meningitis Case On Princeton Campus
PRINCETON, N.J. (AP) — Princeton University has its seventh case of meningitis this year.
The university says a student was diagnosed Sunday morning. Tests are being conducted to determine to what strain of the illness he has and whether it is connected to the other cases.
The six other students who have been diagnosed since March were all from type B meningococcal bacteria. All students living in dorms are required by state law to have a licensed meningitis vaccine. It protects against most strains of the bacteria, but not type B.
State health officials say they declared an outbreak earlier this year in hopes of raising awareness on the Ivy League campus. The university is working with the Centers for Disease Control to try to find ways to stop the spread of the disease.
The school is telling students to wash their hands, cover their coughs and not to share items such as drinking glasses and eating utensils.
State officials say meningitis can be spread through kissing, coughing or lengthy contact. The symptoms include headache, fever, vomiting and rashes.
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