A female UW-Madison freshman who lives in Ogg Residence Hall was admitted to a hospital Friday and remained in serious condition over the weekend with meningitis. This is the second case of meningitis at UW-Madison and the fifth in the UW System in recent weeks.
The first UW-Madison case involved another female freshman, who lives in Sellery Residence Hall. She was admitted to the hospital April 17 and released last week with meningococcal disease. Meningitis is a common condition of meningococcal disease.
Medical personnel had yet to make a diagnosis as to the cause of the Ogg resident's meningitis as of press time, but had ruled out meningococcal disease.
For that reason, Jonathan Zarov, University Health Services communications manager, said it was \highly unlikely"" whatever caused the meningitis was contagious, so no other students living in the dorm had been treated with antibiotics.
""There's not a public health concern,"" Zarov said.
As to why there was not yet a diagnosis, Zarov said he did not know. A diagnosis is usually made within two or three days.
Housing officials sent Ogg residents e-mail Friday, telling them that ""while you should always be cautious, you should not be alarmed.""
Craig Roberts, an epidemiologist at UHS, said since the UW-Madison cases involve different types of meningitis, one caused by meningococcal disease and the other not, they are not related.
Meningitis, an inflammation of the brain, is caused by a number of different factors, including meningococcal disease and parasites.
The disease is only communicable through direct exposure, including kissing and sharing eating utensils. Contact with fluids from the body of the infected person can also cause transmission.
