A second college student in two weeks has been infected by the rare Type B meningococcal bacteria, San Diego County health officials confirmed Friday.
The Palomar College student was hospitalized and undergoing treatment for the same serotype that led to the death of SDSU freshman Sara Stelzer last week.
The school says the unnamed student has not been to class for the past several weeks, and even though they feel confident their students and staff are safe, they sent out precautionary emails to notify everyone.
County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) officials say they cannot establish a connection between the current patient and Stelzer or the SDSU campus.
Because no link between the two cases has been established, health officials say they are unable to request a special Type B vaccine not currently licensed in the U.S.
The vaccine has been used in previous outbreaks at Princeton and UC Santa Barbara. Those cases met the criteria for special FDA guidelines that allow the use unapproved treatments in life-threatening situations.
Meningococcal disease is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children two through 18 years old in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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It's easily transmitted by people living in close quarters. Common ways of spreading include coughing, sneezing, sharing utensils, water bottles or drinks. It can also be spread by sharing cigarettes or pipes and through intimate contact like kissing.
Read what you need to know about meningococcal disease from the CDC here.
It's a serious disease that can be fatal. If you believe you may be experiencing symptoms of meningococcal bacteria infection, it's important to see a physician.
The most common symptoms are a stiff neck, high fever, sensitivity to light, confusion, headaches and vomiting, according to the World Health Organization.
