Meningitis Cases Spark Another Alert
by R.J. Weber

For the second time this school year, there’s a meningitis scare at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Students are leaving Morrison Dorm these days knowing one of their neighbors has meningococcal meningitis.

Student Health Services Medical Director Mary Covington says she’s worried that another case might develop, but stresses how rare these cases are.

“I’ve inquired to people who’ve worked here a long time, and no one can recall ever having two cases in one year,” Covington said. “Most of them have been sporadic and separated by many, many years.”

Student Health officials are urging students who had close contact with the infected student to receive the free preventative antibiotic.

They also encourage students to wash their hands thoroughly and to avoid eating, drinking and smoking after others.