WEST LONG BRANCH,N.J –A Monmouth University employee has been stricken with bacterial meningitis. The employee, who works in the controller’s area, has been admitted to a local hospital and remains seriously ill. The good news is that
no other cases of the disease have been reported in the university community.
President Paul Brown, Monmouth County Health Officer David Henry and Monmouth University director of health services Kathy Maloney met a crowd at 3 p.m. today in Pollak Theater. They discussed the case, gave general information about meningitis and answered questions from those who attended.
President Brown opened the meeting discussing the local community, “We really wanted to spend some time educating the community.” He also shed light on what is being done to help the situation, “We are not the experts, but we are working with the experts and that’s what’s important.”
Henry spoke next about the meningitis incident, stating, “The case is still under investigation.” However, he positively suggested that safe precautions were being taken and that the university was working closely with the state health department.
Maloney then spoke about meningitis effects, how it spreads and the impact it had on the employee and the campus community. She stated that young people are “most at risk” and the disease is spread through “close personal contact.” She explained that the disease is difficult to be transferred. She also stated that extended hours would have to be spent with another person for the disease to transfer.
Maloney even got into the symptoms of the disease. She explained that meningitis mimics the flu but does have some differences claiming neck stiffness, headaches, and high fever are the most common signs. The disease usually takes the life of its victims and those that survive have some sort of complications.
The individual with the disease was said to be “fighting for his life” by Maloney. Another university official has reached out to the victim’s family in an effort to do whatever the family requires. No students have been affected by the disease so far.
President Brown offered this closing message to the campus community, “Think about your body and do all the precautionary things.”
