2008 Woodie Awards
Health officials: Meningitis scare unfounded
Jordan Cline
Issue date: 10/19/06 Section: Front Page
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The Finney County Health Department recently reported that several GCCC students have come to them seeking a vaccination for meningitis because they heard rumors that three college students had the disease. However, health officials have confirmed that although one GCCC student has been hospitalized with viral meningitis, there have been no confirmed cases of bacterial meningitis.
Bacterial meningitis is a communicable disease and by law, when diagnosed, it must be reported to the Kansas Department of Health & Environment and to the Finney County Health Department. Viral meningitis is more common and less threatening.
"Viral meningitis is like the flu, there is nothing that can be done for viral meningitis," said Student Health Nurse Janice Nunn.
Bacterial meningitis, on the other hand, is very serious. If not promptly treated, it can be life threatening. Bacterial meningitis is rare, unlike viral meningitis.
Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. Bacteria or viruses usually cause the inflammation.
Joe Gustin, Janesville, Calif., had spinal meningitis when he was 2 years old.
"I was very sick and hospitalized. The doctors said I should either be blind or deaf right now but all it left me with was weak enamel in my teeth," Gustin said.
Some of the symptoms of meningitis include fever, lethargy, headaches, sensitivity to light, and a stiff neck. GCCC requires all incoming students residing on campus to show proof of vaccination to meningitis or have a signed declination form in their charts. However, the vaccine does not provide 100 percent protection.
There are five types of bacterial meningitis and the vaccine provides protection from four.
"Doctors say 150 kids across the U.S. will get it each year, and there has been one verified case of bacterial meningitis in Kansas in the last year," Nunn said.
Besides the vaccination, the best way to protect yourself from meningitis is not to share eating utensils, not staying in enclosed areas with someone who is sneezing and coughing a lot, not putting your mouth on water fountains, and not sharing bottles, cans, or cups with others.
"If you drink and smoke, you are at a greater risk," Nunn said.
College students are also at a higher risk for meningitis because they spend more time together in close living quarters.
"It is scary to know that a student has meningitis and it can spread," said Tyler Bruce, Vidalia, La.
Nunn said she is out of the vaccine for the next 30 days; however, when she gets it, it will go to those students who are most at risk of bacterial meningitis. She also said there is no need to panic because there are no confirmed cases of bacterial meningitis on campus.
For more information or to request a vaccination, contact Nunn at 276-9601.
Bacterial meningitis is a communicable disease and by law, when diagnosed, it must be reported to the Kansas Department of Health & Environment and to the Finney County Health Department. Viral meningitis is more common and less threatening.
"Viral meningitis is like the flu, there is nothing that can be done for viral meningitis," said Student Health Nurse Janice Nunn.
Bacterial meningitis, on the other hand, is very serious. If not promptly treated, it can be life threatening. Bacterial meningitis is rare, unlike viral meningitis.
Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. Bacteria or viruses usually cause the inflammation.
Joe Gustin, Janesville, Calif., had spinal meningitis when he was 2 years old.
"I was very sick and hospitalized. The doctors said I should either be blind or deaf right now but all it left me with was weak enamel in my teeth," Gustin said.
Some of the symptoms of meningitis include fever, lethargy, headaches, sensitivity to light, and a stiff neck. GCCC requires all incoming students residing on campus to show proof of vaccination to meningitis or have a signed declination form in their charts. However, the vaccine does not provide 100 percent protection.
There are five types of bacterial meningitis and the vaccine provides protection from four.
"Doctors say 150 kids across the U.S. will get it each year, and there has been one verified case of bacterial meningitis in Kansas in the last year," Nunn said.
Besides the vaccination, the best way to protect yourself from meningitis is not to share eating utensils, not staying in enclosed areas with someone who is sneezing and coughing a lot, not putting your mouth on water fountains, and not sharing bottles, cans, or cups with others.
"If you drink and smoke, you are at a greater risk," Nunn said.
College students are also at a higher risk for meningitis because they spend more time together in close living quarters.
"It is scary to know that a student has meningitis and it can spread," said Tyler Bruce, Vidalia, La.
Nunn said she is out of the vaccine for the next 30 days; however, when she gets it, it will go to those students who are most at risk of bacterial meningitis. She also said there is no need to panic because there are no confirmed cases of bacterial meningitis on campus.
For more information or to request a vaccination, contact Nunn at 276-9601.
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