Copyright Information . Equal Opportunity Information . Immunizations Meningitis Hepatitus B Meningitis Meningococcal meningitis is a rare but potentially dangerous illness which can be caused by either viruses or bacterial. It can lead to dangerous swelling of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Viral meningitis is usually not as serious as the bacterial form, and viral meningitis is the more common of the two.
Persons typically recover with minimal treatment.
Bacterial meningitis can cause serious illness with possible long-lasting effects on the nervous system, or even death within 48 hours. If caught early, bacterial meningitis is usually curable. Exposure occurs through droplet contamination from the nose or throat of a person with meningococcal disease. This is especially important information to students living in residence halls since exposure can occur more easily. Exposure can also occur through intimate contact such as kissing, sharing beverage containers, cigarettes or eating utensils.