A Cornell student has been hospitalized with suspected meningococcal disease.

Initial tests indicate that the student, a 19-year-old female freshman, is suffering from meningococcemia, a severe bacterial infection in the bloodstream. Meningococcemia is caused by the same type of bacteria that can cause meningococcal meningitis.

The student was examined by physicians at Cornell's Gannett Health Center Wednesday (Jan. 31) and admitted that night to Cayuga Medical Center. She was transferred to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester today (Feb. 1), where she was listed in guarded condition.

At this time, no other current cases of meningococcal disease, a serious and sometimes fatal illness, have been diagnosed on campus, and Gannett officials are working with the Tompkins County Health Department to monitor the situation, said Janet Corson-Rikert, M.D., interim director of Gannett.

Health Department staff in cooperation with Gannett Health Center are contacting people with whom the student has recently been in direct contact to deliver preventive medication where advisable.

Gannett physicians explained that meningococcal infections are spread by close contact with nose or throat secretions of an infected person. The disease develops within the first two to five days of exposure in most cases. At any given time, up to 10 percent of the population carries the germ without illness, and physicians theorize that variations in individuals' immune response may determine which persons develop serious illness. Meningococcal disease generally is treated with antibiotics and hospitalization.

Symptoms of meningococcal disease include high fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, rash and mental status alterations. People with these symptoms should seek immediate medical care, physicians advise. Students with concerns about illness should contact Gannett Health Center at 255-5155. For information about meningococcal disease and public health concerns, contact the Tompkins County Health Department at 274-6604.

Important information about meningococcal disease

A Cornell freshman was hospitalized on Jan. 31, 1996, with suspected meningococcal disease. Gannett Health Center wants to make sure that students, faculty and staff have up-to-date information about this disease:

• This serious infectious disease usually occurs as isolated cases in children and young adults, but has some potential in a campus setting to occur in multiple individuals. People who have had close contact with the student in the past two weeks will be identified and provided preventive treatment with an antibiotic to help assure there are no other cases in the directly exposed population.
• The infection is caused by an organism called meningococcus, found in nasal and oral secretions. While the germ can be transmitted through close personal contact, such as sharing utensils or drinks, kissing on the lips, sharing lipstick or lip balm, sneezing or coughing on someone, or "household contact," it only can survive for a minute or two outside the body.
• It is important to remember that most people who become infected simply carry the organism harmlessly, without illness, and eliminate it from the nose and throat within a short time by developing natural immunity. At any one time, up to 10 percent of the normal population may be found carrying meningococcus without illness or symptoms.
• Work situations, including custodial or dining activities, are not associated with a higher risk of illness. " Very rarely, an individual may develop an illness with signs and symptoms of fever, headache and stiff neck, sometimes with a rash or vomiting, and sometimes with lethargy or change in consciousness. These symptoms, or any worsening illness accompanied by fever, should prompt immediate medical evaluation at Gannett Health Center or Cayuga Medical Center.
• No other cases of meningococcal infection have occurred at Cornell in recent months, and an active program of surveillance is being carried on at the university in cooperation with the county health department in order to anticipate any need for further public health measures.

What else can be done to prevent the spread of disease? For yourself: Avoid sharing eating or drinking utensils (including water bottles or jugs), lipstick or lip balm, cigarettes (of any kind); kissing on the lips; sneezing or coughing in someone's face. Wash your hands frequently.

Heavy consumption of alcohol, lack of sleep and other factors known to compromise the immune system also may play a role and should be avoided. An illness with fever, headache, stiff neck or any rapidly worsening illness should be evaluated at Gannett Health Center or Cayuga Medical Center.

For others: Watch for signs of fever, headache, stiff neck or changes in consciousness. If such symptoms appear, do not delay in getting the affected person to medical care for evaluation.