Princeton University reports 8th meningitis case

A Princeton University student is receiving treatment after she was diagnosed with meningitis yesterday.  The student developed symptoms Wednesday night and went to the University’s McCosh Health Center, from where she was taken to a local hospital on Thursday, according to the University Friday.

Blair Hall at Princeton University Public domain photo/Wikimedia commons

New Jersey health officials are currently testing the strain of bacteria to determine if it is Neisseria meningitidis serotype B, the strain that has infected seven students at the school since March.

State law requires all Princeton students living in dorms to have received the licensed meningitis vaccine, which protects against most strains of the bacteria but not serotype B.

The University reported last week they plan on offering a vaccine that can protect against meningitis serotype B, Novartis’ Bexsero, which is approved for use in the EU and Australia.

On Friday’s posting, the university writes:

The vaccine that is being recommended is licensed for use in Europe and Australia, but not the United States. The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration would allow the use of this vaccine for this particular situation at Princeton.

Pending final CDC approval, the University is prepared to accept these recommendations and we are making arrangements to provide access to this vaccine.

On the west coast of the US, three students at UC Santa Barbara have been confirmed with meningococcal meningitis, two confirmed as N. meningitidis serotype B, one pending.

Related article: What is Bexsero? How common is meningococcal disease serogroup B?

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