Central Michigan University

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Health department closes CMU meningitis case

Health department officials have closed their active investigation into the meningitis death of a Central Michigan University student, declaring that any public health risk has subsided.

LaMott Smith, a 26-year-old CMU senior from Sterling Heights, died of meningococcal meningitis, a bacterial form of meningitis, May 7 after falling ill the previous night in Coopersville.

"Three factors are present, which leads me to think that the risk from this situation is almost zero," said Central Michigan District Health Department Medical Director Dr. Robert Graham. "First of all, we have not had any new cases. Secondly, we have gone through two normal incubation periods without a new case, which is a positive indicator. Lastly, we have been able to treat close, personal contacts."

In cooperation with CMU's University Health Services, CMDHD and Ottawa County Health Department officials had been working since May 8 to identify Smith's close, personal contacts who may have needed treatment. Following interviews to assess individuals' risk, more than 110 people were treated with a single dose of antibiotics.

Epidemiological data is still being analyzed and will be completed at a later date, Graham said.

Now, campus and local health officials have shifted their focus to encouraging individuals to be vaccinated against meningitis.

"It is important for everyone to be vaccinated in order to protect themselves from future exposures," said James Barker, CMU's director of University Health Services.

Barker said University Health Services offers meningitis vaccines on a walk-in basis during business hours, which are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The $117 fee for the vaccines is covered by most insurance plans, he said. Vaccines also are available through the CMDHD for $110; call 989-773-5921, ext. 105, to make an appointment.

Vaccination greatly reduces the chance of infection but does not guarantee that infection will not occur, according to health department officials.

For more information regarding meningococcal meningitis, visit the Central Michigan District Health Department Web site at http://cmdhd.org and click the "Meningococcal Information" link on the left side of the page, or visit the University Health Services Web site at http://www.healthservices.cmich.edu and click the "Communicable Disease" link on the left side of the page.