Two US universities have seen meningitis cases recently. In New York, a St. Lawrence University junior has been diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. At St. Lawrence, approximately 95% of the students have been vaccinated. At Texas A&M, a 20-year old junior living off-campus died of bacterial meningitis on Friday. He was the second student this academic year to be infected at Texas A&M. Texas’ one-year old law requiring meningococcal vaccination does not apply to students living off-campus.
Pneumoccal and meningococcal meningitis are the most common forms of bacterial meningitis. The pnemococcal vaccine routinely given to children under 2. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends everyone between 11-18 years of age be vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis. According to the National Meningitis Association, there are 1500 cases of bacterial meningitis every year. Many states and schools require the vaccine for incoming freshman. For more information on the vaccine, visit the CDC’s site.
