Officials at the Wardenburg Health Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder are encouraging students who attended a party in the 700 block of 36th Street in Boulder on the night of April 2 to contact the health center or their primary care provider.
A 20-year-old Metropolitan State College student who attended that party later died from bacterial meningitis. At least seven CU-Boulder students also attended the party. None of the seven students were residents of campus housing.
Three of the seven students already have come into the Wardenburg Health Center to receive a preventative antibiotic treatment and two others were treated elsewhere.
Bacterial meningitis is a potentially fatal disease. Students can be exposed by close contact including kissing, sharing cigarettes, drinks, glasses or eating utensils. Students may become ill up to 10 days after exposure.
Any student who attended the party, or who believes they were in close contact with the Metropolitan State College student, should receive preventative antibiotic treatment. This includes all students who already have received a meningitis vaccine and may or may not be suffering any symptoms.
Bacterial meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord, and its accompanying bloodstream infections, is rare but potentially fatal.
The Wardenburg Health Center medical clinic is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday.
CU-Boulder students who attended the party should call the Wardenburg Health Center nurse line at 303-492-3435 or their primary care provider. General information on meningitis is available on a recorded line at 303-492-8741 or visit the Wardenburg Health Center Web site for updates at /.
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