Blood infection hits another WSU student

Herald staff and news services

EDMONDS — A 19-year-old Washington State University student Thursday remained in the intensive care unit at Stevens Hospital in Edmonds with symptoms of meningococcemia, a bacterial blood infection caused by the same organism as meningococcal meningitis.

The student has been on intravenous antibiotics since he was admitted to the hospital on Sunday, said Judy May, a communicable disease control manager for the Snohomish Health District.

"His condition is improving, but he’s still in serious condition," May said.

A total of eight Snohomish County residents with whom he had close contact, including family members, have been given antibiotics to try to prevent contracting the disease, May said. None have reported any symptoms, she said.

No other cases related to this one have been reported.

At Washington State University in Pullman, health officials recommended that all students be vaccinated against meningococcal disease after the local 19-year-old, a freshman member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, was diagnosed with the bacterial blood infection.

He was admitted to Stevens Hospital with rash, joint pains and swelling of the hands and feet Sunday.

It was the third case involving a WSU student in two months, prompting Bruce Wright, director of WSU Health and Wellness Services, to declare an outbreak.

"For this reason, we are strongly recommending that all WSU students receive the meningococcal vaccine,” he said in a news release.

Symptoms of meningococcemia include high fever, rash, nausea, vomiting, lethargy and joint pains. Symptoms of meningitis include severe headaches, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, rash, lethargy and high fever.

Both conditions may resemble the flu.

WSU officials were arranging for vaccinations for summer school students living in residence halls and fraternity and sorority houses.

May said the Snohomish Health District has 50 doses of the vaccine for any WSU students who may be in the area.