Following are responses to frequently asked questions about the recent meningococcal infection for Penn students, parents, and the wider community.
 

General Questions

General Questions

Is the latest case of meningococcal infection connected to the previous cases?

There is no evidence to suggest that the current case of meningococcal infection is connected to previously confirmed cases involving Penn students. Health officials are treating this as a new, isolated, independent case.

Why is the University not releasing the name or identifying information about the hospitalized student?

To protect the privacy of health information of our students, the University does not release names or other identifying information about patients. University and public health officials work with the patient, close friends, and relatives to identify and notify all those who have had close contact with the patient. In the most recent case, all those who have had close contact with the patient have been notified.

If someone were exposed to meningococcal meningitis, how long is it before that person would get sick?  How long is the incubation period for meningitis?

The incubation period ranges from 1 to 10 days but is usually less than 4 days.

Is there something in the University environment that causes meningococcal infection?

According to the American College Health Association, approximately 100 to 125 cases of meningococcal disease occur on college campuses each year. Approximately 10% of the general population carry meningococcal bacteria in the nose and throat in a harmless (carrier) state.  This carrier state may last for days or months before disappearing spontaneously. However, on occasion, the bacteria become invasive, resulting in infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord; when this happens, a person can become gravely ill.

While public health officials cannot always explain the reasons, meningococcal infections, whether isolated or clusters of cases, may occur on any campus or in any other community throughout the U.S. regardless of the environment.

How are students contracting this disease if vaccination is required?

No vaccine is 100% effective. The meningococcus vaccine protects against four of the five strains of meningococcal infection. The three earlier confirmed cases involving Penn students indicated the strain of infection not covered by the vaccine. The currently hospitalized student has been identified to have the same strain.

All incoming undergraduate students living in campus-owned housing must be immunized against meningococcal disease. Students are exempt from this requirement only if there is a medical contraindication to vaccination or if religious beliefs prohibit immunization.

How do Penn students get the vaccine for meningococcal meningitis?

All incoming Penn undergraduate students living in campus-owned housing must be immunized against meningococcal disease. Penn students who were not immunized or have questions about their immunization may contact the Student Health Service at (215) 746-3535 and ask for an immunization appointment. The vaccine protects against most but not all strains of meningococcus. Even individuals previously vaccinated against meningococcus should receive preventative antibiotic treatment if they had close contact with an infected individual.

What is meningococcal meningitis and what are the symptoms?

Meningococcal meningitis is a serious bacterial infection of the lining of the brain.  The bacteria often colonize the nose and throat of healthy people in a harmless (carrier) state - approximately 10% of the general population may carry meningococcal bacteria in the nose and throat in this carrier state.  This carrier state may last for days or months before disappearing spontaneously.  However, on occasion, the bacteria become invasive, resulting in infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord; when this happens, a person can become gravely ill.

Some common early symptoms of meningococcal meningitis include fever, severe headache, and sensitivity to bright light, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, rash and lethargy. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should see a physician immediately.

How is meningococcal infection spread?

The meningococcal bacteria responsible for this disease are spread only through close, prolonged contact with a person who is infected or who is a carrier. Close and/or intimate contact with an infected individual does call for preventative measures. People who have had intimate or close direct exposure to a meningococcal meningitis patient in the seven days before the onset of illness should receive preventative treatment. The medical definition of intimate or close direct contact includes kissing; sharing eating utensils, drinking glasses or toothbrushes; or by droplet contamination from nose, throat or any secretions or excretions from the body of the infected individual. Because the meningitis vaccine provides protection against most, but not all, strains of meningococcus, the degree of protection from immunization is not 100%. Therefore, even individuals previously vaccinated against meningococcus should have preventative treatment if they had close contact with an infected individual.

Casual contact (eating in the same dining hall, attending classes together) does not pose a risk and most infectious disease experts do not recommend treatment for people with casual or random exposure. The bacteria are not transmitted by food handlers or through food.  Meningococcal bacteria usually cannot live outside the body for more than a few minutes; people cannot be infected by being in a room where an infected individual has been.


Student Questions

Do I need preventative antibiotic treatment?

Health officials recommend preventative antibiotic treatment should be limited to close contacts only. The meningococcal bacteria responsible for this disease are spread only through close, prolonged contact with a person who is infected or who is a carrier. Close and/or intimate contact with an infected individual does call for preventative measures. People who have had intimate or close direct exposure to a meningococcal meningitis patient in the seven days before the onset of illness should receive preventative treatment. The medical definition of intimate or close direct contact includes kissing; sharing eating utensils, drinking glasses or toothbrushes; or by droplet contamination from nose, throat or any secretions or excretions from the body of the infected individual.

If I received preventative antibiotic treatment in connection with the earlier confirmed cases of meningococcal infection, do I need to take it again because of this new case?

All of the identified close contacts of the currently hospitalized student who need preventative treatment have been notified. Health officials recommend preventative antibiotic treatment should be limited to close contacts only. A student who received preventative antibiotic treatment in connection with the earlier confirmed cases would need treatment again if he or she had recent close, prolonged contact with the currently hospitalized student.

How do I know if I have had close contact with the student who has recently been hospitalized with meningococcal infection?

University and public health officials work with the patient, close friends, and relatives to identify and notify all those who have had close contact. In the most recent case, all those who have had close contact with the hospitalized student have been notified. Health officials emphasize that the meningococcal bacteria responsible for this disease are spread only through close, prolonged contact with a person who is infected or who is a carrier. Casual contact (living on the same dormitory floor, eating in the same dining hall, attending classes together) does not pose a risk and most infectious disease experts do not recommend treatment for people with casual or random exposure.

I am afraid that I may have been exposed to the student in class (or the library or on campus).

There is no risk to having touched or hugged the student. There is no risk to face-to-face conversation with the student nor is there a risk to having been in the same building, room, classroom, library or other setting or using the same bathroom. The meningococcal bacteria responsible for this disease are spread only through close, prolonged contact with a person who is infected or who is a carrier.

I am a Penn student and I have been feeling sick for the past few days.  How do I know that I don’t have meningitis? Should I be evaluated?

Health officials strongly advise students with symptoms to seek early medical care. Some common early symptoms of meningococcal meningitis include fever, severe headache, and sensitivity to bright light, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, rash and lethargy. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should see a physician immediately.

Meningococcal infection is usually a severe and rapidly progressive illness. While it is highly unlikely your recent illness was related to meningococcal infection, if you have symptoms or concerns, Student Health Service can provide an evaluation. Call Student Health Service at 215-746-3535 to arrange for care.


Parent Questions

What should I be saying to my son or daughter about the cases of meningococcal infection at Penn?

You should encourage your son or daughter to learn about meningococcal meningitis by reading the FAQs provided by the University and by checking the Student Health Service website for updates. Anyone experiencing symptoms of the disease should see a physician immediately. Any Penn student who has questions or concerns about the disease should contact Student Health Service at (215) 746-3535 during normal business hours.

You should also strongly encourage your son or daughter to update contact information in the UPenn Alert system to make sure the University can contact them in case of an emergency. Students have the option of adding parent or guardian information so that you will receive alerts in the case of a major emergency at Penn, or if we need to reach your son or daughter in an emergency, we can enlist your help. For more information about UPenn Alert, visit: http://www.publicsafety.upenn.edu/emergencypreparedness/upennalert.asp

If your son or daughter seems concerned (or NOT that concerned) about health issues in general, this might be a good opportunity to talk about personal health while living away from home for the first time. The Office of Health Education is a good place to answer some basic questions and to see what services Penn has to offer. See the Health Education website at: http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/ohe/

For more on the challenges of having a student away at college, take a look at this letter penned by parents who are also the former Associate Vice Provost for University Life and a Professor of English: http://www.college.upenn.edu/parents/letting_go.php

How can parents get more information about this or other medical situations at Penn?

Parents can email avpsa@pobox.upenn.edu. Health advisories and updates are posted on the Student Health Service website: http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/shs/index.php

In the recent cases of meningococcal infection, email messages have been sent to Penn students, staff, and faculty. This is because they all have Penn-issued email addresses. We do not currently collect email addresses from Penn parents for the purpose of providing health advisories, but expect that students will inform their parents appropriately about developments on campus.

Does my son or daughter need preventative antibiotic treatment?

The meningococcal bacteria responsible for this disease are spread only through close, prolonged contact with a person who is infected or who is a carrier. Close and/or intimate contact with an infected individual does call for preventative measures. People who have had intimate or close direct exposure to a meningococcal meningitis patient in the seven days before the onset of illness should receive preventative treatment. The medical definition of intimate or close direct contact includes kissing; sharing eating utensils, drinking glasses or toothbrushes; or by droplet contamination from nose, throat or any secretions or excretions from the body of the infected individual.

If my son or daughter received preventative antibiotic treatment in connection with the earlier confirmed cases of meningococcal infection, does he or she need to take it again because of this new case?

Health officials recommend preventative antibiotic treatment should be limited to close contacts only. All of the identified close contacts of the currently hospitalized student who need preventative treatment have been notified.

How do I know if my son or daughter has had close contact with the student that has recently been hospitalized with meningococcal infection?

We have notified all of the students identified to have had intimate or close direct exposure to the hospitalized student. Health officials emphasize that the meningococcal bacteria responsible for this disease are spread only through close, prolonged contact with a person who is infected or who is a carrier. Casual contact (living on the same dormitory floor, eating in the same dining hall, attending classes together) does not pose a risk and most infectious disease experts do not recommend treatment for people with casual or random exposure.