A female UW-Madison student is in serious condition as of Friday with bacterial meningitis, and a 17-year-old high school student from Eau Claire died Friday from the disease.
The student, a resident of Ogg Hall, is not being identified due to privacy concerns.
This case of meningitis is the second for UW-Madison residence halls in two weeks. UW freshman Kelly Steinborn, a resident of Sellery hall, was hospitalized with the disease April 17. She has since been released.
Paul Roth, 17, died at 11:30 am from what health officials expect was meningococcal meningitis. Roth’s death marks the second death from the disease in the Chippewa Valley in the last week. Roth was a student at Chippewa Falls high school and had gone on a field trip Thursday to the Twin Cities but seemed fine, principal Jim Sauter said. He was taken to Luther Hospital Friday morning by his parents because he felt ill and died hours later.
Debbie Odden, Chippewa County Health Department assistant director, said there is no known connection between the cases.
“There is no known connection to the cases that have already been diagnosed,” she told the Associated Press.
Odden said the boy had been ill for 24 hours prior to his death.
Eau Claire health officials have not declared an outbreak and are continuing to reassure the public.
These cases make the total six in Wisconsin in the last two weeks. In addition to Steinborn, one student at UW-Eau Claire died from the disease, and another student from Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire contracted the disease. A student from UW-Whitewater was also diagnosed.
Steinborn’s case and that of the student currently infected are not related because they carry different types of the disease.
“At this time we are still taking our lead from [University Health Services]. Typically, we respond to any community issues,” said Kevin Helmkamp of University Housing.
UHS has not released an update on the patient’s condition since Friday evening.
“It is not the particular strain of meningitis that would pose a public health concern,” said Jonathan Zarov of UHS.
Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining surrounding the brain and spinal cord and is generally treated with antibiotics. Meningococal meningitis, a specific strain of the disease, has been ruled out as the cause of the student’s illness.
Typical symptoms of meningitis include a fever greater than 101 degrees and a severe headache, as well as neck stiffness and rashes.
