Meningococcal Disease: CSU Educates Students

By Chelsea Metheny

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Larimer County health officials are working with Colorado State University to address the recent cases of meningococcal disease in the city of Fort Collins, which claimed the life of one CSU student last week.

Cristina Adame, a CSU sophomore International Studies major, died on Oct. 20 from Waterhouse- Friderichsen Syndrome, a rare form of meningococcal disease.

“It is a bacterial infection of the adrenal glands,” said coroner’s investigator, Louis Greek. “It means the adrenal glands can’t fight off infection.”

The adrenal glands are small organs on the top of the kidneys that are involved in the stress response of the body.

Greek also explained that 10-15 percent of people carry the Waterhouse-Friderichsen bacteria in the back of their throats, but very few become ill from it.

The other two diseases caused by meningococcal bacteria are meningitis and meningococcal sepsis. Meningitis is the inflammation of the brain and spinal cord; Sepsis is the infection of the bloodstream with the bacteria.

To protect against the strains of meningococcal bacteria, Dr. Adrienne Lebailly, director of the Larimer County Health Department, encouraged all CSU students to receive the meningitis vaccine. It is most effective the first year after it is administered.

Lebailly also encouraged those who were vaccinated more than four years ago to obtain a booster shot of the meningitis vaccine.

Adame received the vaccine; however, it had been over four years ago, making her more prone to the meningococcal bacteria.

The CSU Health Network can provide students and staff with vaccines and more information.

The CSU Public Safety Team issued an announcement on Wednesday to students and staff responding to the recent scare of meningococcal disease, stating that “there is no indication that the university community is experiencing an isolated, heightened meningococcal disease health crisis.”

As it is true for all college students, CSU students have a greater risk of contracting the disease. This is due to the age of students and typical behaviors in college, like kissing and sharing drinks. According to health officials, teenagers and young adults are also the most common carriers of the bacteria, which occur naturally in the back of the nose and throat in 5-15 percent of people.

Since meningococcal bacteria are spread through the saliva of an infected person, students are encouraged to not share food, eating utensils, drinks or cigarettes.

The strain of meningococcal bacteria that caused the death of Cristina Adame is also linked to several other cases in the Front Range.

The first outbreak was traced to a Metropolitan State student who died on April 8, from an invasive meningococcal disease. The student contracted the disease after attending a party in Boulder. The student may have gotten the disease from sharing drinks during the party.

“I think it’s so scary that meningitis can be spread through sharing drinks. People need to be really careful at parties, especially with beer pong games,” said Jessica Astley, a sophomore CSU student.

The eruption of meningococcal disease that clouded headlines occurred earlier in the summer, with the deaths of three hockey players in northern Colorado.

Hockey players Brian Wormus and Nick Smith, both died in June from illnesses linked to the same strain of meningococcal bacteria.

The third hockey player was William Jubert, who also fell ill in June. After a long battle with the disease, he passed away on Oct. 11.

To prevent more outbreaks of the strain of meningococcal bacteria in the Front Range, CSU’s goals still aim to educate students about the spread of the disease, and also encourage vaccinations. The CSU Health Network had dedicated a hotline for meningococcal disease questions: 970-491-2147.