Meningitis strain identied in MSU student

While Michigan State University sophomore Adam Busutill is still hospitalized after being diagnosed with the Y strain of bacterial meningitis last week, doctors at University Hospitals have nearly ruled out bacterial meningitis for a University student admitted yesterday.

University Health System spokesperson Cara Gavin said the female student, who lives in Bursley Residence Hall, "most certainly has viral (meningitis), which is real good news."

Gavin said University doctors will have a definite diagnosis tomorrow. She added that doctors said the University student's condition is "not really serious" and "viral meningitis should not really be a big concern here."

Glynda Moorer, director of MSU's Olin Health Center, said symptoms of viral meningitis include fever, headaches and neck and back pain. Initial symptoms of meningococcal meningitis are similar, but fevers and headaches are more severe.

Moorer added that viral meningitis is not life threatening.

Nearly two weeks ago, Busutill, a resident of MSU's Wilson Residence Hall, was admitted to Sparrow Hospital in Lansing for meningococcal meningitis. Since his admittance, MSU has dispersed antibiotics to those who had come in contact with Busutill, such as residents of Wilson Residence Hall and members of the MSU marching band, of which Busutill is a member.

A positive result to a spinal tap indicates that a patient has bacterial meningitis.

Officials at Sparrow Hospital said at Busutill's wishes, no condition reports will be given, but they did confirm that he still is a patient at the hospital.

MSU has also been giving out Menumune vaccinations to MSU students and staff. The vaccination protects against the strands of A, C, Y and W-135. Moorer said MSU has vaccinated about 14,000 people with Menumune since the school started vaccinating about two weeks ago. Each vaccination costs MSU about $50.

Dean Sienko, Ingham County medical director said the Center for Disease Control usually recommends dispensing antibiotics only to those who have been in direct contact with a bacterial meningitis patient and not to making routine vaccinations readily available when only one case of bacterial meningitis has been detected.

This conflicts with the American College Health Association's suggestion to make routine vaccinations available.

But MSU decided to take that additional action as a preventative measure. "We are trying to be prudent in terms of immunization," Moorer said.

Sienko said now that the case is isolated, the threat of meningococcal meningitis should be cease on the MSU campus.

"I think there has been no transmission from this student to anyone else. We're back to the baseline." he said.

Still, Sienko added, the vaccinations MSU is offering may help prevent meningitis from breaking out again, since college students are at a higher risk of becoming infected.

10-20-99