MENONGOCOCCAL INFORMATION
On July 22, 2003, Governor Pataki signed New York State Public Health Law (NYS PHL) 2167 requiring colleges and universities to distribute information about meningococcal disease and vaccination to all students meeting the enrollment criteria, whether they live on or off campus. This law became effective on August 15, 2003.
Meningococcal disease or meningitis is an infection of the fluid of a person's spinal cord and the fluid that surrounds the brain. Meningitis is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Its flu-like symptoms make diagnosis difficult. Viral meningitis is generally less severe and resolves without specific treatment, while bacterial meningitis can be quite severe and may result in brain damage, hearing loss, or learning disability.
Some forms of bacterial meningitis are contagious. The bacteria are spread through the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions (i.e., coughing, kissing). Fortunately, none of the bacteria that cause meningitis are as contagious as things like the common cold or the flu, and they are not spread by casual contact or by simply breathing the air where a person with meningitis has been. However, sometimes the bacteria that cause meningitis have spread to other people who have had close or prolonged contact with a patient with meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis (also called meningococcal meningitis) or Hib.
Bacterial meningitis can be treated with a number of effective antibiotics. It is important, however, that treatment be started early in the course of the disease. Appropriate antibiotic treatment of most common types of bacterial meningitis should reduce the risk of dying from meningitis to below 15%, although the risk is higher among the elderly.
The cost of the vaccine usually ranges from $60.00 to $85.00. Please check with your doctor for details.
Please make sure you complete and return the Meningococcal Meningitis Response Form within 30 days of the beginning of the semester. Please note that according to NYS Public Health Law, no institution shall permit any student to attend the institution in excess of 30 days without complying with this law.
You can find additional information about the disease at:
New York State Department of Health Website: WWW.HEALTH.STATE.NY.US
Website of the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mening/
The American College Health Association (ACHA) Website: WWW.ACHA.ORG.