Two cases of meningitis reported on campus, but no outbreak, authorities say

Two cases of bacterial meningitis have been reported on the University campus since March, University Spokesperson Martin Mbugua confirmed Thursday. In total, 10 people who were considered to be in close contact with the two affected individuals have been given prophylactic treatment by University Health Services.

The cases were reported March 25 and April 12. Both patients have since recovered and the cases are not believed to be related, Director of Communications for the New Jersey Department of Health Donna Leusner said. According to Leusner, this is not an outbreak, which she defines as two or more related cases.

Leusner also confirmed that both cases were caused by the same bacteria, although it remains unclear if it was the same strain.

The University did not issue any campus health alerts following the cases. Mbugua explained that the University did not issue the alerts because they are only warranted when there is a threat to the campus at large.

“Neither we nor the health department felt this was the case,” Mbugua said.

David Henry, the local health officer who announced the meningitis cases on Tuesday at a regular meeting of the Princeton Board of Health, did not respond to a request for comment.

The first case involved a 18-year-old female student who had been away from campus over spring break and developed symptoms on her way back, Mbugua said. Six other individuals were given prophylactic treatment because they had been in close contact with her.

Examples of close contact include kissing, coming in contact with coughs or sneezes and sharing cups, bottles or eating utensils, Leusner explained.

The second case involved a 17-year-old visitor to campus and was reported to the University April 12. The visitor had been on campus April 6-8 and was infectious at the time, although he only developed symptoms after leaving campus. He was in close contact with four people, according to Mbugua.

Only the University student case is being investigated by the NJDOHSS, Leusner noted. The other case is being investigated by the visitor’s home state, which has not been disclosed.

University students are required to be vaccinated against meningitis before enrolling on campus. Mbugua confirmed that the affected student had been vaccinated.

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Joseph Amon, a visiting lecturer at the Wilson School, a former epidemic intelligence officer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and current director of the health and human rights division at Human Rights Watch, explained that outbreaks of meningitis have been recorded in college campuses before, particularly among the freshman class.

“I think it’s a point in time when people are concentrated together and have very close interactions that increases the possibility of transmission,” Amon said. “The same is true for soldiers in military barracks, for example.”

Symptoms of bacterial meningitis infection can include nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and altered mental status, according to the website of the Centers for Disease Control. The disease may appear as a sudden onset of fever, a headache and a stiff neck. Symptoms appear 3-7 days after infection. The disease affects roughly 1,000 people per year in the United States.

Amon said he thought the University had responded appropriately by identifying the people who had had close contact with the infected individuals and putting them on prophylactic treatment immediately.

"Because Princeton students are vaccinated, the likelihood of an outbreak or further transmission is low," he said.

Correction: Due to incorrect information provided to the 'Prince', an earlier version of this article misstated the timing of the onset of the infected student's symptoms. She developed the symptoms on the way back to campus. The 'Prince' regrets the error.