UW-Madison student dies of bacterial meningitis

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Source: http://www.courierlifenews.com/articles/2010/02/03/thisjustin/05meningitis.txt

UW-Madison student dies of bacterial meningitis
By DEBORAH ZIFF and MATTHEW DeFOUR | Lee Newspapers
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A 22-year-old UW-Madison student diagnosed with bacterial meningitis died Tuesday at UW Hospital surrounded by friends and family.

The death of Neha Suri, a senior from Singapore majoring in journalism and political science, saddened students and staff across campus Tuesday. Hundreds had followed her condition on Web sites like CaringBridge and Facebook since she fell ill more than a week ago.
"It?s just not fair," said Becky Vevea, a friend who knew Suri from journalism courses. "I don?t understand why somebody that wonderful with such a bright future could be taken so quick."

A campus memorial is tentatively planned for 4 p.m. Wednesday in Lathrop Hall, 1050 University Ave...

 

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Re: UW-Madison student dies of bacterial meningitis

Source: http://www.channel3000.com/health/22571022/detail.html

Officials: Meningitis Strain Same For Mount Horeb Girl, UW Student
16-Year-Old Died This Weekend

Updated: 3:49 pm CST February 15, 2010

MADISON, Wis. -- Local public health officials said on Monday that a 16-year-old Mount Horeb girl who died this weekend had the same strain of bacterial meningitis that recently killed a University of Wisconsin-Madison student last month.

Public health experts said both Haleyem M. Thorpe and Singapore native Neha Suri had meningococcal meningitis -- one of three main types of bacterial meningitis.

However, Dr. Thomas Schlenker, the head of Public Health -- Madison and Dane County, said that so far there is no evidence of a connection between the deaths or that the meningococcal strain in both is more than random.

Schlenker said the next step is for the state to analyze the bacteria to see if the two young people shared the same "subtype." Shlenker said results of those tests could be out later this week, WISC-TV reported.

If they are the same, he said his agency will investigate any possible link further.

Schlenker said Thorpe, identified in a newspaper obituary, wasn't ill at all the week before she died. She died suddenly on Saturday.

Further details about what symptoms she might or might not have been showing before her death aren't yet clear. Public Health nurses are gathering information on the timeline of her death as well as who she was in close contact with at school and other places, officials said.

Schlenker said those family and friends deemed at risk for becoming infected should and will be given antibiotics to treat the risk. There is no widespread risk to the general public or school population, Schlenker said.

Symptoms of bacterial meningitis often include a bad headache, severe neck stiffness and a fever. There may also be a rash and confusion or sensitivity to light.

Bacterial meningitis is contagious, but not as easily spread as a cold or the flu. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it can be spread from person to person through the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions. This can occur through coughing, kissing and sneezing.

CDC and local experts said that the bacteria isn't spread by casual contact or by simply breathing the air with a person with meningitis.

Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.