University student diagnosed with meningitis
There is no cause for alarm, health authorities insist
A female University student in her early 20s has been diagnosed with meningitis.
The health authorities said there is no cause for alarm.
It is not yet confirmed what type of meningitis the student is suffering from but it is suspected it is a case of bacterial meningitis, Charmaine Gauci, director of the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Department, said.
Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and the spinal cord. It can be caused either by a bacteria or a virus.
Viral meningitis is associated with winter epidemics and is not normally very severe, with most people recovering fully, often without specific treatment.
On the other hand, bacterial meningitis tends to be more severe and there is a serious risk of complications, with 10 per cent of those affected having long-term problems, even death.
The symptoms of bacterial meningitis develop very rapidly, often within hours, while those for viral meningitis take longer to develop.
Dr Gauci said close contacts of the student, including her family and other students, have been identified and given prophylactic treatment to cut the risk of transmitting the disease to others. Doctors have also spoken to University students.
She explained that the meningitis pathogens do not live outside the body for a long time and there was no risk for other University students.