Duke student tests positive for bacterial meningitis

DURHAM, N, C (WTVD) –

A student from Duke University has been tested positive for bacterial meningitis. The undergraduate student was recently admitted to the hospital, the university announced Monday.

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University officials use it to alert people likely to have been in close contact with the student.

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Duke Student Health is also working closely with Durham County's Department of Health to look for potential contacts, the school said. Close contact is considered as direct exposure to a person's saliva. For example, kissing, sharing a glass or toothbrush, or prolonged exposure to a person who is coughing.

Occasional contact does not transmit the infection.

Dr. John Vaughn, Director of Student Health Services, and Dr. Cameron Wolfe, Associate Professor of Medicine at the Division of Infectious Diseases, sent a message to students likely to have been in contact with the program. affected student, making them aware of the situation and informing them that they may want to take an antibiotic "as a preventive measure to further reduce the risk".

The physicians encouraged students to contact the Duke Student Health Center if they had questions at (919) 681-9355, option 2. Non-students can contact the Durham County Health Department at (919) 560-7600. Students who have been informed and have already left for Thanksgiving Day can contact their local health care provider to receive the antibiotic.