Undergrad admitted to hospital with bacterial meningitis, Duke reaches out to those in close contact

Duke announced Monday night that an undergraduate was admitted to the hospital with a confirmed case of bacterial meningitis. 

The University is working to alert individuals who may have been in close contact with the student, according to a Duke Today release. Casual contact, the release said, does not transmit the infection. 

John Vaughn, director of Student Health Services, and Cameron Wolfe, associate professor of medicine in the infectious disease division, messaged students who had potentially been in close contact with the undergraduate to inform them about the situation and encourage them to take an antibiotic in order to lower their risk. Examples of close contact include kissing or sharing a drink.

Student health is working with the Durham County Health Department on the matter, according to the release. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines bacterial meningitis as "very serious" and possibly deadly.  On average, 4,100 cases occurred each year in the United States between 2003 and 2007, according to the CDC.