CANTON – St. Lawrence University officials are urging anyone who believes they’ve been in close contact with a student diagnosed with bacterial meningitis to seek preventative medical attention as soon as possible.

On Saturday evening, Feb. 12, Courtney Washington, ’12, was taken to Canton-Potsdam Hospital, and then transported to Fletcher Allen Hospital in Burlington and diagnosed with bacterial meningococcal disease. This is a contagious, though not easily transmittable, disease, and it can be fatal.

Only people who have been in close contact (household members, intimate contacts, health care personnel performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) need to be considered for preventive treatment.

Casual contact, as might occur in a regular classroom, residence hall public spaces or dining hall, is not usually significant enough to cause concern.

Meningococcal disease is a severe bacterial infection of the bloodstream or meninges (a thin lining covering the brain and spinal cord). The meningococcus germ is spread by direct close contact with nose or throat discharges of an infected person, such as drinking from the same glass/cup/mug, sharing eating utensils, kissing, or by being coughed or sneezed upon.

University officials say they believe that a very small number of people may be at risk.

Bacterial meningitis is characterized by these symptoms:

• Fever and chills

• Persistent and severe headache

• Stiff neck

• Sensitivity to bright lights

• Drowsiness or confusion

• Nausea or vomiting

• Purplish skin rash

The symptoms may appear two to 10 days after exposure, but usually within five days.

Antibiotics can be used to treat people with meningococcal disease.

University officials have urged those concerned about exposure to see a medical professional at the Torrey Health Center, which is open Sunday evening from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

If you think you may have been exposed, call the Health Center at 229-5392.

If you have not had close contact with Courtney, you may want to contact your personal physician to seek advice.

Additional information on bacterial meningitis may be found at Center for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/index.html.