<p>S was home for the holiday and I made sure he knew the symptoms. In typical fashion, he reported that most UCSB students are taking this pretty casually (very scary for me, though!) </p>
<p>Here is the e-mail UCSB sent to parents yesterday:</p>
<p>Subject: UCSB Meningitis Update
Date: December 2, 2013
We are writing with a campus update on meningococcal disease. We’ve been informed that a fourth UCSB student was diagnosed with meningococcal disease. The student is receiving treatment and is expected to recover. All close contacts with the student have been informed and have received prophylactic treatment.</p>
<p>Public Health and the CDC have recommended that classes and campus events can safely continue as scheduled. As a precautionary measure, Public Health, however, is strongly recommending that students and student organizations refrain from participating in social events that involve close personal contact, alcohol, and/or smoking, and where eating utensils and cups/glasses may be shared. All the existing cases appear to have had close personal contact.</p>
<p>The University is working closely with the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, the California Department of Public Health and the CDC to review existing control measures. Upon the advice of these agencies, UCSB will be providing antibiotics to additional individuals who we believe may have already been exposed to the bacteria based on assessment of the social networks of existing cases. The University will continue to send out and post updates as warranted.</p>
<p>The University and Public Health continue to recommend that students be aware of the symptoms (high fever, severe headache or stiff neck accompanied by vomiting and rash) and seek immediate treatment if they are present. In addition, to prevent the further spread of any infectious diseases, all community members are encouraged to wash their hands frequently and avoid sharing drinking cups and smoking devices.</p>