No need to fear an outbreak, after student contracts meningitis

The North-West University (NWU) had its first case of meningitis since 2022 after a student at Veritas Mens Residence was admitted to hospital with a bacterial strain of the disease on 5 March 2023.

He has since been released from the hospital and has fully recovered, Derek van der Merwe, the primarius of Veritas, said on 20 March.

According to Louis Jacobs, spokesperson of the NWU, the necessary steps were taken to ensure that the disease does not spread. “Directly after the case came to light, all the students in Veritas and the first years of Vergeet-My-Nie, received preventative antibiotics. This also includes students the patient had class with.” Vergeet-My-Nie and Veritas are ‘sleep’ [partner] residences and therefore the first years have a lot of contact with one another.

All positive meningitis cases are directly communicated to the management of the NWU so they can implement the protocol to curb the disease. 

If you are infected with bacterial meningitis, symptoms start showing within the first five days. “No other cases have been reported and students have no reason to fear an outbreak,” Jacobs said.

Meningitis is a highly infectious disease which in some cases might even be fatal. Students are advised to get their meningitis shot at the NWU Healthcare Centre, because they are exposed to more physical contact now than in the last three years.

If you are experiencing symptoms (see infographic below) related to meningitis, visit the Healthcare Centre in building E16 or your local doctor or pharmacy to get tested.  For more information read Stop meningitis: One prick does the trick published earlier in 2023.