WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI — Health officials have issued an exposure advisory after a person was diagnosed with meningitis days after attending two fraternity-sponsored events at the University of Michigan and Michigan State Universiity.
Washtenaw County Health Department leaders issued the advisory Thursday, Jan. 27 after a confirmed case of meningococcal meningitis was reported to them a day earlier.
Health officials said the person attended an event at the Delta Kappa Epsilon residence at 800 Oxford Road, Ann Arbor, from 10:30 p.m. to midnight on Thursday, Jan. 20.
The person also was in East Lansing on Saturday, Jan. 22 and attended an off-campus ticketed event, hosted by Sigma Beta Rho, at Club Rush, 131 Albert Ave. Health officials did not state an exact time the event occurred.
Any person who attended those events, and during the time the diagnosed person was there, should receive antibiotic treatment to prevent possible disease, according to the health department.
“This is not an outbreak and risk to the larger community remains low, but meningococcal meningitis is a very serious illness,” said Juan Luis Marquez, MD, MPH, medical director with the Washtenaw County Health Department, in a written statement.
“We are working as quickly and collaboratively as possible to provide information and treatment options to anyone with potential and direct exposure to the known case,” he said.
Symptoms of meningococcal meningitis include sudden onset of fever, headache, stiff neck, vomiting, rash or confusion.
Anyone with those symptoms should seek medical help immediately. Health officials say meningitis can be diagnosed and then treated with several antibiotics.
According to the health department, meningitis is spread through contact with an infected person’s oral or nasal secretions, meaning saliva or mucus. Close contacts are those who have been coughed or sneezed on, kissed, shared the same food, eating or drinking utensils or been in a crowded space with poor ventilation with an infected individual.
For University of Michigan students who think they may have been exposed, health officials ask they notify the University Health Service by completing the following online form.
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