NEW ORLEANS – A rare infection of the bloodstream that can spread bacteria throughout the body took the life of a 22-year-old Dillard University student Jan. 18.
According to the New Orleans Health Department Director Kevin Stephens, the infection spreads quickly through the body and can cause death within two days, although it affects one person in 500,000. Early warning signs include fever, rash and flulike symptoms.
Health officials said vaccines are effective; however, the body needs two weeks to build up enough antibodies to fight the infection after receiving the shot. The university offered free immunizations Jan. 23 to students, faculty and staff to prevent the infection. The vaccine is used to fight meningitis, which is related to the illness.
Those who were close to the infected student are receiving preventive care from the Louisiana Office of Public Health.
So far, this case appears to be the only one of its kind on the campus.
State law requires incoming students to receive the meningitis vaccine. Officials say first and second-year college students are more likely to contract such illnesses because they are more likely to live in close quarters in the dormitories.
Stephens adds that college students are not the only group vulnerable to the disease; older people can contract the illness as well.
