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Meningitis B in the News

Dear Campus Community,

We at Health Services know students are probably thinking about  roommates, classes, finding their way and enjoying the new freedoms of being a college student, but we’d like you to consider adding something else to that list: a vaccine for Meningitis B. To date, there have been no cases of suspected Meningitis B on the Washington College campus. But, this is a serious illness that’s not uncommon on college campuses—recently, in fact, the University of Massachusetts Amherst confirmed two unrelated cases of Meningitis B there. 

We’d like to take a proactive approach, educate you a little about this disease, and suggest some steps to help prevent its transmission.

Meningitis is a serious illness caused by the bacteria named Neisseria meningitides. This germ can sometimes cause meningitis (infection of the tissue that covers the brain and spinal cord) or sepsis (an infection of the blood), which can be fatal if not treated. This bacteria can be contagious, but it is typically not as contagious as the common cold or flu. It can be transmitted through close personal contact such as kissing, sharing drinks, and coughing on someone. It is NOT typically transmitted on exercise equipment or using washed dishes, having casual contact, or simply breathing the air where a person with the illness has been.

Washington College complies with Maryland law requiring all students residing on campus to have received a Meningitis vaccine that covers types A, C, Y and W, unless there is a bona fide medical or religious exemption. However, at this time, Maryland law does not require that students receive the Meningitis B vaccine. 

Washington College Health Services encourages all students to get the Meningitis B vaccine series, a position supported by the American College Health Association (ACHA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Early in the winter break is a good time to do this. The Meningitis B vaccine series (Trunemba or Bexero) is a two-part vaccine, which means that students may need to get the first vaccine at home and then the last vaccine (due 30 days after the first) at one of the local pharmacies upon their return to Chestertown. This vaccine may be available at your primary care provider’s office or at the pharmacies. It may also be available through your Health Department at home.

If you do get immunized, please forward documentation to Health Services’ fax at 410-810-7101 so that we can add this to your immunization history. This would help us identify students in cases of disease outbreak.

We also encourage everyone to use sensible health precautions over break including good handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes with tissues or your sleeves, contacting your provider if you become sick, and avoid sharing drinks, food, and personal items that could contact saliva (like Chapstick or drinking from punch bowls). If you become sick, a general rule is to avoid interactions, gatherings, work, etc. until you are fever-free for at least 48 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.

For more information visit website for CDC at  https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/ , Meningitis Research Foundation at https://www.meningitis.org, or  National Meningitis Assocaition  at http://www.nmaus.org/

Be Well,

Lisa Marx, CRNP, Director Health Services