Second meningitis case confirmed
Thirteen students identified as close contacts
Matt Morrison
Issue date: 2/1/08 Section: News
Another UCF student was diagnosed Wednesday with bacterial meningitis.
Christopher Taylor, who allowed the university to use his name in an e-mail sent to the UCF community Wednesday evening, was admitted to a hospital Monday with symptoms.
Taylor is said to be recovering well and without any of the severe consequences associated with bacterial meningitis, said Dr. Michael Deichen, associate director of Clinical Services for UCF Health Services.
Bacterial meningitis is spread through close contact, mainly through saliva by kissing, sharing food or being coughed on at close range. Anyone living with an infected person may also be infected.
Thirteen students were identified by the university as being close enough to Taylor during the seven days he was contagious to be at risk of contracting the infection. The Health Center is providing a free antibiotic to all students who believe they could have been infected.
"If you've had close contact, it's in your best interest to get the antibiotic," Deichen said at a press conference Thursday.
Typical symptoms include high fever, confusion and neck stiffness, which can develop over the course of several hours or as much as two days.
The Health Center will be distributing the antibiotic for free through Feb. 4, until the potential time of exposure passes.
Taylor, a business major, lives in Tower 4 at Knights Plaza. He attended only two classes on campus during the time he was contagious, both were on Jan. 24: cinema survey from 1:30-4:20 p.m. in the Visual Arts Building and fundamentals of technical presentation from 6-7:15 p.m. in the Communications Building.
Deichen said it is difficult to transmit meningitis and that the bacteria cannot survive very long outside of the human body.
"The vast majority of cases of meningitis are sporadic," Deichen said.
Nevertheless, he said, "We are going to err on the side of giving the antibiotic" to those who request it.
Christopher Taylor, who allowed the university to use his name in an e-mail sent to the UCF community Wednesday evening, was admitted to a hospital Monday with symptoms.
Taylor is said to be recovering well and without any of the severe consequences associated with bacterial meningitis, said Dr. Michael Deichen, associate director of Clinical Services for UCF Health Services.
Bacterial meningitis is spread through close contact, mainly through saliva by kissing, sharing food or being coughed on at close range. Anyone living with an infected person may also be infected.
Thirteen students were identified by the university as being close enough to Taylor during the seven days he was contagious to be at risk of contracting the infection. The Health Center is providing a free antibiotic to all students who believe they could have been infected.
"If you've had close contact, it's in your best interest to get the antibiotic," Deichen said at a press conference Thursday.
Typical symptoms include high fever, confusion and neck stiffness, which can develop over the course of several hours or as much as two days.
The Health Center will be distributing the antibiotic for free through Feb. 4, until the potential time of exposure passes.
Taylor, a business major, lives in Tower 4 at Knights Plaza. He attended only two classes on campus during the time he was contagious, both were on Jan. 24: cinema survey from 1:30-4:20 p.m. in the Visual Arts Building and fundamentals of technical presentation from 6-7:15 p.m. in the Communications Building.
Deichen said it is difficult to transmit meningitis and that the bacteria cannot survive very long outside of the human body.
"The vast majority of cases of meningitis are sporadic," Deichen said.
Nevertheless, he said, "We are going to err on the side of giving the antibiotic" to those who request it.