Updated March 16, 11:35 a.m.
The undergraduate student hospitalized with meningococcal infection March 7 remains in critical condition but is stable and improving, according to University spokeswoman Phyllis Holtzman on Monday.
The student was infected with strain B, the strain for which there is no vaccine, according to Holtzman.
There are no new suspected or confirmed meningococcal infection cases, she added.
Strain B is the strain contracted by the three students hospitalized last month, and is the only one of the five strains of meningococcal infection for which no known vaccine has been developed.
The vaccine protects against the four other strains, known as A, C, Y and W-153.
Three Penn students were hospitalized between Feb. 12 and 13 with meningococcal infection, a bacterial infection within the bloodstream. An additional two students were hospitalized on Feb. 15 with flu-like symptoms but were never confirmed to have meningitis.
The student hospitalized the morning of March 7 is believed to have no connections to any of the previously hospitalized students, according to SHS director Evelyn Wiener.
She also said no links to either Greek or athletic communities have been identified. The students who became ill during the February outbreak had common contact through the Greek system, according to University officials. Other colleges also alerted their fencing teams to the situation, and advised those students to seek preventative treatment, though Penn has refused to confirm or deny that members of the fencing team were affected.
In last month's cases, SHS preventatively treated about 3,000 students with Ciprofloxacin, but University and Philadelphia health officials do not believe widespread distribution of preventative medicine is necessary in the current situation.
Close contacts of the student believed to need preventative treatment - a number Wiener estimated to be about 10 to 20 - have been notified, and "just about all of them" have received treatment, Wiener said, adding that SHS has been "pretty aggressively" examining the student's close contacts.
The University sent an e-mail notifying the Penn community of the situation about 7 p.m. on March 7. The student's family has also been notified.
Penn has also notified the city, which will notify the state, which will in turn notify the Center for Disease Control, according to Wiener.
Those who have had casual contact - such as living in the same dormitory, eating in the same dining hall or attending classes - with the infected student are not at risk for infection and treatment is not recommended for these individuals.
Although students with a smaller connection to the infected students do not require medication, SHS will evaluate any concerned student and extended its hours March 7 and 8 to do that.
Common symptoms of meningococcal meningitis include fever, severe headache, sensitivity to bright light, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, rash and lethargy. Anyone experiencing these should seek medical attention immediately.
Anne Ryan, a College sophomore, died from meningitis in September 2007. Her family has sued the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, alleging that she was mistreated, and the case is still pending.
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The Meningitis Foundation of America (MFA), a national organization, would like the public and media to know that information is available regarding the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of meningitis. MFA was founded by parents whose children were affected by meningitis. In addition to supporting vaccines and other means of preventing meningitis, the MFA provides information to educate the public and medical professionals so that the early diagnosis, treatment and, most important, prevention of meningitis, will save lives. Meningitis is a dangerous and sometimes fatal inflammation of the brain and/or spinal cord that can leave survivors with serious life-long physical problems such as deafness, brain damage and other disabilities, meningitis can sometimes result in loss of limbs. MFA would like to be considered as a news resource for the disease. For further information, visit the MFA website at www.musa.org. MFA is proud to announce the new C.I.S.S. Container Identification Scratch System When we participate in sporting events or mingle at social gatherings it is possible to lose track of our water bottles and/or beverage cans, especially those served in containers that are very similar or identical to a container from which you are drinking. This carries the risk of transmitting an illness, such as meningitis or the common cold or flu. The Container Identification Scratch System, or C.I.S.S., is a fun way to make sure you always know your drink from others. Use it at sporting events or at family gatherings and reduce the waste from forgotten drinks. Simply scratch your number from the C.I.S.S. label and identify your drink. For more information please contact Bob Gold at Ciss.bob@gmail.com and www.musa.org Thank you, Meningitis Foundation of America P O Box 83602 Phoenix, AZ 85071 480.270.2652 www.musa.org
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The UniversityÕs noncompliance with federal regulations requiring immunizations is costing the endowment millions, damaging credibility with the community, and hurting HUPÕs reputation as one of the nationÕs top hospitals. The Vice Provost of University Life would be well advised to conduct an ROI analysis on a comprehensive immunization strategy that incorporates the needs of Student Health Services, Human Resources, International Affairs, college Deans, and CAPS. The analysis would underscore the need for effective policies, procedures and communication programs and reduce preventable, serious illnesses on campus. The current system is unacceptable given the number of outbreaks. See, e.g., http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2009..., http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/ 2009/02/19/News/Meningococcal.Infection.Outbreak.Over.City.Is.Uncertain.Interactive.Timeline-3637542.shtml, http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/ 2009/02/19/News/Wharton.Graduate.Student.Contracts.Measles-3637391.shtml, http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2005..., http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2005....
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[QUOTE id="238991bd-3c36-4145-94ff-3b2c61467a51"]The UniversityÕs noncompliance with federal regulations requiring immunizations is costing the endowment millions, damaging credibility with the community, and hurting HUPÕs reputation as one of the nationÕs top hospitals. The Vice Provost of University Life would be well advised to conduct an ROI analysis on a comprehensive immunization strategy that incorporates the needs of Student Health Services, Human Resources, International Affairs, college Deans, and CAPS. The analysis would underscore the need for effective policies, procedures and communication programs and reduce preventable, serious illnesses on campus. The current system is unacceptable given the number of outbreaks. See, e.g., http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2009..., http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/ 2009/02/19/News/Meningococcal.Infection.Outbreak.Over.City.Is.Uncertain.Interactive.Timeline-3637542.shtml, http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/ 2009/02/19/News/Wharton.Graduate.Student.Contracts.Measles-3637391.shtml, http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2005..., http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2005/04/19/News/Meningitis.Reported.At.Penn-2148289.shtml.[/QUOTE] Why don't you read the article/get your facts straight before blaming the university for something that is completely out of their control. "The undergraduate student hospitalized with meningococcal infection Saturday morning was infected with strain B, the strain for which there is no vaccine, University spokeswoman Phyllis Holtzman said Wednesday."
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I feel sorry for all these students. Someone better monitor them for side effects. There have been many people who have ruptured tendons and get bad cases of tendonitios from this class of drugs. The FDA black boxed this drug last year
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True. However, people not treated with quinolones when a quinolone is most appropriate usually end up suffering from a bad case of death. [QUOTE id="18d0660d-6b92-4ed3-ae7f-40a5ba29d679"]I feel sorry for all these students. Someone better monitor them for side effects. There have been many people who have ruptured tendons and get bad cases of tendonitios from this class of drugs. The FDA black boxed this drug last year[/QUOTE]
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Nicholas Miter- Get your facts straight. The current Meningococcus vaccine does not account for group B meningococci. Scientists have faced difficulties trying to create a vaccine for this bacteria. It is assumed that this is what the students are infected with. I think Penn realizes that these outbreaks are not good for the university's public image.
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http://www.who.int/vaccine_safety/topics/meningococcal/Dec_2007/en/index... http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00560313
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It's interesting that the University published the type of strain within the last 24 hours. You'd think the public would want to know whether they're at risk.
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Hi, It might be true that the person met the other two people in an unanticipated or accidental fashion. However, there is only one way the disease can pass. It doesn't pass through casual contact. You can't negate the science. Always check your body fluids.
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what are the odds that a completely unrelated case would just pop up? I say you can probably get hit by lightning sooner. this person probably got it from the others who had it through accidental contact.
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Wear condoms for goodness sakes!
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Meningococcus is NOT a sexually transmitted disease. [QUOTE id="5b7a6554-a0b6-44df-b563-e9ff819392b3"]Wear condoms for goodness sakes![/QUOTE]
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update this story...student health just posted another update...this is old news...the meningococcal infection is confirmed now
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The darlings are in Florida so they can't update the story.