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Rutgers University officials urged students to get vaccinated after Tuesday, after a possible outbreak of bacterial meningitis on the New Brunswick campus as a result of the infection of two undergraduate students the month latest.
Both cases of bacterial meningitis were tested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and it was confirmed that they had identical sets of genes, which led the New Jersey Department of Health to suggest an outbreak of meningococcal serogroup B, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Chancellor Brian Dit Strom.
"Although we can not predict whether there will be any other cases of meningococcal infection, two cases occurred over a short period with genetically linked organisms, this suggests that there is Meme it has an outbreak associated with Rutgers University – New Brunswick, "said Strom in a statement.
Although there have been no new cases of bacterial meningitis in Rutgers since the two students were diagnosed in February, those who live in the undergraduate residences have always been asked to vaccinate themselves against the disease. meningitis type B, officials said.
"Students must understand that if they have received the mandatory vaccine for students on campus, which protects against types A, C, W and Y of the bacteria, they are not protected against type B, which is the bacteria involved in this outbreak, "a statement from the university said.
In addition to students living in undergraduate residences, anyone with health problems that puts them at increased risk of meningococcal meningitis, such as sickle cell disease, and microbiologists "regularly exposed" to meningococcal bacteria, have also been invited to be vaccinated, said Strom.
Students can be vaccinated at student health centers, on-campus clinics and / or at their doctor or pharmacy, University officials said.
The disease is "very serious and can be fatal" and "death can occur in just a few hours," according to the CDC.
The bacterium is transmitted through the exchange of secretions from the airways and throat, such as saliva, and is not usually transmitted by casual contact, the CDC said.
Signs and symptoms include high fever, headache, stiff neck and rash that can develop in hours or in one to two days, officials said.
It was not the first time that a diagnosis of bacterial meningitis was diagnosed in Rutgers' students. In 2016, two students caught the disease and vaccines were recommended for everyone on campus.
Chris Sheldon can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @ chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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