Fearing the spread of a outbreak that has caused seven people at to be hospitalized this year, university officials have warned students to stop sharing drinks and to avoid kissing. Bright orange posters urge students to “keep healthy and carry on,” and red cups labeled “Mine. Not Yours” serve as reminders not to share drinks at parties.
Despite the campaign, a male student last week was found to have bacterial meningitis, nearly eight months after the outbreak’s first case, in which a female student returned from spring break showing symptoms. Although the previous six patients have recovered from the disease, in which bacteria cause infections that can maim or kill people within hours, the university’s leaders are considering a stronger step to halt the outbreak: distributing a vaccine not approved for use in the United States.
