LOCAL

Person tests positive for bacterial meningitis after attending frat party in East Lansing

Ken Palmer
Lansing State Journal

EAST LANSING – A person who attended a fraternity party in East Lansing on Saturday has tested positive for bacterial meningitis. Health officials are urging everyone who attended the event to be treated with an antibiotic.

The person who tested positive is a University of Michigan student who went to a ticketed event hosted by Sigma Beta Rho at Club Rush, 131 Albert Ave., the Ingham County Health Department and Michigan State University said in a news release.

"Based on the public health investigation by ICHD and MSU, all individuals present at this event and during this time frame are considered potential close contacts to the case of meningococcal meningitis," officials said in the release.

"All potential close contacts should receive prophylaxis in the form of antibiotic treatment to prevent the disease. This antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended regardless of meningococcal vaccination status and is given in the form of a single oral tablet."

The medications include ciprofloxacin and rifampin. Close contacts should receive the antibiotic within 14 days of exposure, they said.

Antibiotics will be available for free to potential close contacts from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday at clinics in the MSU Room on the third floor of the MSU Union Building, officials said.

People should enter the building from the entrance off Abbot Road and use the stairs to the third floor. Parking will be available in Ramp 6 off of Grand River Avenue.

Anyone who can't attend the clinic is asked to contact their health provider to be treated with a prophylaxis. Otherwise, they can call the county health department to discuss how they can get a prescription. The contact numbers are (517) 887-4308 or (517) 342-9987 (after regular business hours).

"Early treatment for close contact will aid us in containing further spread," Ingham County Medical Director Dr. Adenike Shoyinka.said in the news release, adding that no MSU students had reported symptoms suggesting they are infected.

Meningococcal meningitis is a rare but serious disease that causes swelling of the membranes around the spinal cord and brain. It is caused by the bacteria, Neisseria meningitides.

Attendees at a ticketed frat event held at Club Rush on Albert Avenue in East Lansing are being urged to get an antibiotic treatment after one party-goer was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis.

It can be spread through coughing or sneezing, kissing, or eating or drinking from shared utensils, cups or bottles. It can also be caught by staying in a crowded space with poor ventilation for "a prolonged period," officials said.

Symptoms typically appear after one to 10 days of exposure and can include fever, headache, stiff neck, vomiting, rash or confusion.

Anyone who experiences symptoms should see a doctor immediately, officials said.

“As soon as the infectious disease was suspected, our public health teams began working closely with campus partners, the Washtenaw County Health Department and University of Michigan officials to identify and reach out to those individuals who may have been in close contact with the identified case and could potentially be at risk,” MSU Physician Dave Weismantel said. “Bacterial meningitis is rare and not easily transmissible, and we believe there is limited risk to our campus at this time.”

People who might have been exposed should check their vaccination record to be sure they received a meningococcal disease vaccine or seek to get vaccinated if they are eligible, officials said.

Vaccination guidelines are available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website. The county health department's immunization clinic can be reached at (517) 887-4316.

Contact Ken Palmer at kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.