| Show 1 1 I 1 Mf f j jt f t Ri t k 1 t t g e a e- e d Lo Liz IZ L. L Livingston t on il 7 Staff Writer A new disease is striking US U.S. college campuses disease a form of meningitis is a dreadful combination combination combination com com- of minor flu like symptoms symptoms symptoms toms with a debilitating or fatal outcome One of the more frightening aspects of the disease is that its it's airborne Once someone acquires the disease it produces symptoms similar to the flu like fever headache stiffness stiffness stiffness stiff stiff- ness nausea but if theses symptoms symptoms symptoms toms are ignored it could cause disa disability or death disease has a adeath adeath adeath death rate of J 10 0 to 15 45 percent and leaves the survivors with debilitating side effects such as brain damage hearing loss kidney kidney kidney kid kid- ney failure and learning ties The disease infects Americans each year killing approximately people It is estimated that to cases occur annually on college cam cam- Studies have shown that students students students stu stu- stu- stu dents living Jiving in dorms dorms' or roommate roommate roommate room room- mate situations are more susceptible fible tible ease tolne the 6 disease se f il ien eh fh Iri ii riS an College n g Health Association recommended recommend recommend- ed that college students get the vaccine to prevent cal disease and urged colleges to educate their students about the harmful effects of the disease Since then colleges and un uni uni- i- i have included ACHA recommendations on their health forms and have awareness campaigns campaigns cam cam- to educate parents and students Unfortunately cases of disease are becoming more prevalent Since 1991 occurrences of the disease among 24 15 year olds have more than doubled But with more education and availability of the vaccine cases of the disease should start to diminish An example of the successful containment of the disease can be found in the vaccinating of the US U.S. military According to an informational put out bythe bythe by bythe the ACHA Prior to 1971 the military had experienced high rates of dis dis- ease The US U.S. military now routinely vaccinates new recruits Similar to college environments environments environments military recruits who live in confined areas are exposed to tobacco smoke patronized bars and drink ly Since the initiation of routine vaccination of recruits there has been a substantial reduction in sporadic cases and virtual elimination elimination elimination nation of outbreaks of invasive I disease d. d e e. e 1 r J j r. r q Following Following- this example disease can be contained on college campuses as well but colleges need to do more Even Health and See Meningitis on page 4 Meningitis continued from page 3 Wellness Center has no real information on the disease r. r and f the refe refers students to t the e SL Valley y Health Department Now is the best time to educate your self on dis dis- dis- dis Yi ease because it usually peaks in I late winter and early spring Information about the vaccine can be found by calling the Immunization Hotline ati r o f fr I iri I n J. J I 1 t h S |
