Kathryn Malone '98 is currently in serious condition in Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center after being diagnosed with spinal meningitis yesterday morning, according to Dean of the College Lee Pelton.
Director of College Health Services Dr. Jack Turco said Malone is probably infected with the meningococcus bacteria, which would make her the third person to become infected in the last month.
Spinal meningitis, a potentially fatal disease caused by the meningococcus bacteria, is an inflammation of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Five to 15 percent of spinal meningitis cases result in the death of the victim.
The meningococcus bacteria travels through air and is highly contagious. But in order for the disease to be transmitted, a carrier has to be in close contact with others for an extended period of time.
Pelton and Turco said they have found no connections between Malone and either of the other two previous victims of the meningococcus bacteria.
Three weeks ago, Slade Ellis '98 was in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit at DHMC with spinal meningitis. He stayed in DHMC and Dick's House for a week before returning home.
A week before, an unidentified freshman woman suffered from a blood infection of the bacteria, called meningococcemia, but did not develop spinal meningitis.
College Spokesman Alex Huppe said the situation warrants concern, but added there is no need for the entire campus to panic.
"All students in any danger have been contacted by College health officials," he said. "If you have not been contacted, you are in no greater risk than you were two days ago."
A press release said that the College gave antibiotics to roommates and people who came in close contact with the infected students.
Turco said Malone's condition has improved dramatically since she first went to Dick's House at about 9:00 yesterday morning.
"She'll be back to classes next week and she'll feel normal in the next day or two," Turco said.
"Malone's recovering quite wonderfully," Pelton said.
Early yesterday morning, Malone was nauseous and was suffering from a headache and a fever, Turco said.
After being contacted by Malone and her roommates, Safety and Security sent a car to take her from her room in North Massachusetts Hall to Dick's House.
Doctors at Dick's House monitored Malone and decided her symptoms, including a fever of 103 degrees Fahrenheit, warranted treatment for possible spinal meningitis, Turco said.
An ambulance transported Malone to DHMC around 9:00 a.m. Once she arrived, doctors performed a spinal tap and identified the illness as spinal meningitis, Turco said.
Turco spent several hours with Malone throughout the day yesterday and continuously checked on her condition.
He said by 1 p.m. "she had improved significantly."
Turco said he contacted the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Ga. regarding the new infection. He said the CDC has not designated the number of cases of the disease that would constitute an outbreak or an epidemic.
Turco said the nature of the incidents constitute a "cluster" of cases, but he acknowledged it could be called an outbreak by some or an epidemic by others.
Turco said Malone probably has the B-strain of the meningococcus bacteria, which is not treatable with a vaccine. Ellis and the other student also had the B-strain.
"Once it's diagnosed it's very treatable," Turco said. He said for students to protect themselves from the disease, they should seek medical attention as soon as they suffer from any of the symptoms of spinal meningitis, which include disorientation, nausea, headaches and high fever.
Although these symptoms are similar to those of influenza, Turco warned if a student has these symptoms and they worsen, he or she should see a doctor. He stressed this for those with a fever that is clearly more than 101 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pelton and Huppe were not surprised by the new incident.
"The illness seems to be following a pattern predicted in January by federal and state health authorities," Huppe said.
The press release said health authorities warned the College that it should expect more cases because students are at a greater risk of contracting the disease during the winter.
Turco explained that while very few people manifest an infection from the bacteria, others may carry the virus but never suffer any of the symptoms.
"The bacteria just sits in the throat. Carriers don't get sick, but if they cough, they can infect other people," Turco said. He estimated that up to five percent of the people on campus could potentially carry the meningococcus bacteria.
