All I know about meningitis, I learned from House. In other words, I don’t know a damn thing other than it’s probably not the right diagnosis in any given case at Princeton-Plainsboro.

But we might need to research it a bit more now. A student from Alpha Chi Rho is currently at the Geisinger Medical Center being treated for a case of bacterial (meningococcal) meningitis. The other fraternity brothers have been treated, and other students who may have come into contact with the disease are being identified by University Health Services.

Penn State Live explained the disease a bit more in its press release:

Meningococcal meningitis is a form of bacterial meningitis that is treated with antibiotics. This serious disease can easily be misdiagnosed as something less serious, because symptoms are similar to the flu. Early symptoms may include fever, severe headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to bright lights, confusion and lethargy. Symptoms may develop rapidly and for this reason, it is important to get medical care as soon as possible.

All students living in on-campus housing at Penn State are required to be either immunized against meningitis, excluding special exemptions; however, the vaccine does not protect people from every form of meningitis.

We’re not the first university to have meningitis troubles this year though. Penn (a.k.a. Not Penn State) has had four students contract the disease so far this year. Looks like they’re beating us at something else! Well done yall!