UF graduate student has meningococcal disease

Student hospitalized; officials working to prevent spread of infection

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A University of Florida graduate student has been hospitalized with meningococcal disease, university officials announced Friday.

The Florida Department of Health and the UF Student Health Care Center are monitoring the situation and taking precautions to prevent the spread of the disease, according to a letter to the University of Florida community from Guy Nicolette, interim director of the UF Student Health Care Center.

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The Alachua County Health Department is notifying everyone believed to have had contact with the infected student, and staff are deciding case-by-case if those people need preventative treatment with antibiotics.

Meningococcal disease is a severe infection that is potentially life-threatening if not treated quickly. Common symptoms associated with meningococcal disease are a sudden fever, intense headache, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck or a rash. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical.

Anyone with questions or concerns is asked to contact the UF Student Health Care Center Immunization Clinic at 352-294-7472 or the Florida Department of Health at 850-245-4444 or health@flhealth.gov.

For more information on the disease, go to shcc.ufl.edu.