Acadia student dies of meningitis, Public Health says no increased risk to community
An Acadia student’s roommates found her unconscious in her residence room and took her to hospital in Kentville on Jan. 31. The next day, she died of bacterial meningitis, says Nova Scotia’s chief public health official.
Speaking in Halifax Feb. 2, Dr. Robert Strang said the young woman was treated with antibiotics.
“Sometimes infectious diseases can be extremely rapidly progressive and despite the best medical attention we’re not able to be successful in treatment,” he said.
“This is a very sad day for Acadia,” university president Ray Ivany said in a prepared statement.
“We are a very closeknit community and we were saddened to learn of the sudden and tragic loss of one of our students on Sunday. I have been in touch with the student’s family and have expressed deepest sympathy on behalf of the entire Acadia community.”
Acadia is not releasing the student’s name at her family’s request, Ivany said.
He directed all questions about medical care to government officials.
“At this point in time this remains as an isolated case on the Acadia campus,” Strang said in an interview with KingsCountyNews.ca. “We’re following up any individuals who, through their direct exposure, could be at increased risk.”
About half a dozen Acadia students – including the student’s roommate – plus a few family members have been given preventive antibiotics.
No increased risk
The sad news came just a week after Rylee Sears, a Lower Sackville teenager, died of meningococcal meningitis.
Strang said there is no indication the two cases are related, but Public Health is still trying to identify the strain of bacteria in the Acadia student’s death.
“We’re working with advanced lab techniques,” he said. “We may never get that. We’re trying.”
Despite two cases in a brief period – and the first deaths from bacterial meningitis in more than a decade – the disease is very rare. Strang said there are only one to five cases of meningococcal disease a year in Nova Scotia, including meningitis.
Strang said there is no indication of increased risk to the broader community from the two recent incidents.
The student was not a varsity athlete, he confirmed, but he did not know if she was involved in the community as a volunteer. Even if she was, Strang said the bacteria is only passed through direct contact.
“A contact of a contact would not be of any increased risk. It’s not like flu where you contract (the bacteria) and then you’re contagious,” he explained.
“A small percentage of the population have this bacteria in their nose and throat… as long as you’re a carrier you could transmit this. It’s only in rare circumstance, often that we don’t fully understand, when someone who has it in their nose and throat and it… causes actual disease.”
There is no need for other members of the Acadia or Kings County communities to be concerned, he said.
“These events are rare and, unfortunately, they can have tragic outcomes,” he said.
What to do
“Focus on taking personal steps that are going to decrease their risks for a whole range of disease,” Strang advised. “Washing your hands, not sharing drinks, foods, smokes… getting vaccines against diseases we have vaccines against.”
Strang urged anyone with concerns about their own health to call 811, see their family doctor or attend a walk-in clinic. A phone line will be set up for general information, Strang added.
“If somebody has a level of illness more than you would normally expect,” during flu and cold season, they should get medical care. In urgent cases, he said, Nova Scotians should go to their local emergency room or call 911.
Signs of meningitis include a “fever, headache and very severe illness and are progressing rapidly,” Strang said. “These people need urgent medical attention.”
Ivany said Public Health staff would be available on campus to answer questions. Counselling is also available for members of the Acadia community.