Wake County Human Services and N.C. State University (NCSU) officials are strongly urging individuals who attended a party after 10 p.m., Friday, October 22, at 611 Chamberlain Road, Raleigh, to be treated with preventive medicine for meningitis. Preliminary tests indicate meningococcal meningitis in Jonathan Davis, age 18, who attended the party, which was held near the NCSU campus. Davis is a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is hospitalized at UNC Hospitals.
Anyone who attended the party after 10 p.m., Friday or anyone who has had extended, direct, face-to-face contact with Davis within the last 10 days also needs to be treated. The prophylaxis or treatment consists of a single dose of the antibiotic, Ciprofloxacin, taken by mouth. Exposed individuals who have had the meningococcal vaccine should still get preventive treatment because the vaccine does not cover all strains of bacteria that cause meningitis.
The NCSU Student Health Center will be offering the preventive treatment at no charge for anyone, student or non-student, who was exposed. The Student Health Center, located at 2815 Cates Avenue (corner of Dan Allen Drive and Cates Avenue, across from Witherspoon Student Center) will be dispensing treatment at the following times:
Thursday, October 28, until 9 p.m.;
Friday, October 29, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.;
Saturday, October 30, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
The NCSU Student Health Center can be reached at (919) 515-2563. All those needing preventive treatment should get their medication by Saturday, October 30, according to Gibbie Harris, Wake County Community Health director.
Meningococcal meningitis is a type of bacterial meningitis, a serious illness that causes inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. The bacteria is transmitted person to person through intimate contact such as kissing, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, smoking the same cigarette or drinking from the same glass of the person who has the disease.
Anyone showing signs of meningitis should seek medical care immediately. Symptoms include:
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Severe headache
- Sensitivity to light
- Stiff neck
- Red-red or purple-red rash anywhere on the body
- Sleepiness
- Confusion
Good hygiene and health habits can help prevent the spread of meningitis. This includes not sharing things that make contact with the mouth such as lip balm, cigarettes, food and drinks.