March 26, 2009

Doctors continue to treat a University of Virginia student for a potentially deadly disease after being admitted to the hospital on Thursday. The student is now listed in good condition.

It's been three years since University of Virginia student Jennifer Leigh Wells passed away after contracting bacterial meningitis. The current case of the same disease infecting yet another university student brings back memories for Jennifer's mother, of just how fast and deadly the disease can be.

"It does happen, very fast. Jennifer my daughter got sick on a Friday and we thought she had the flu, she didn't go to the doctor and by Friday night she was in the hospital on life support and on Sunday is when we moved her from life support," said Cindy Payne, Jennifer's mother.

Doctors say that it's rare. Only about 125 people get infected each year nationally. Some of those cases end in death.

"15 to 20 percent of them die. Even in this day and age of intensive care units and great antibiotics. It's a very, very serious infection," said Dr. James Turner, executive director of the Department of Student Health.

Doctors say that those that are sick with things like the flu or mono are more susceptible, but anyone is vulnerable.

"We also see just normal healthy students that come down with the disease and we don't understand exactly why that is. That's why prevention with vaccine is so incredibly important," said Turner.

To raise awareness and money, Jennifer's mother has been holding meningitis walks for the past three years.

http://www.moonlight4meningitis.com/

"Putting the race together and the other events that we do throughout the year, it makes me feel like I'm continuing to do something for Jennifer," said Payne.

She says she hopes to help come up with a vaccine for every strain of meningitis.

"I'm very happy for the young gentleman that's now in good condition and hopefully he'll make it, not like my daughter who didn't get that chance," said Payne.

She hopes no no one has to go through what she and her family have had to endure.

University officials say they're taking every precaution to prevent the infection from being caught by anyone else.

Health officials say bacterial meningitis infects college students about four to five times more than the normal population. There are only about 125 cases reported a year nationally. Up to 15 percent of those cases can be fatal. They say the disease is not highly contagious, and anyone that had casual contact with the infected person should not be at a high risk. Doctors say those that are run down from things like the flu, or mono are at a higher risk for catching the disease.

Everyone who has come in close contact with the student and the first-responders who helped the student have been given the antibiotic prophylaxis as a precaution.

Virginia requires all undergraduate students to receive a meningococcal vaccination, or sign a waiver. Currently, 95 percent of U.Va. undergraduate students have been vaccinated against meningococcal disease, and 77 percent of all U.Va. students have been vaccinated.

Symptoms include a high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, confusion or sleepiness and a red rash that starts on the hands and feet. Anyone who develops these symptoms should see a physician immediately.

U.Va. students with questions can call 434-982-3915 during the day or 434-972-7004 after hours.