The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine prevents meningitis and encephalitis (a much more severe infection of the brain than meningitis) caused by the measles and mumps viruses. There are no vaccines available against the common causes of viral meningitis.

The meningococcal vaccine is safe and effective. As with all vaccines, there can be minor reactions, including pain and redness at the site of injection, lasting one to two days. You cannot get meningitis from the vaccine, because it is synthetic; there are no live bacteria in the vaccine.

Currently there is a licensed rotavirus vaccine available that protects against severe diarrhea from rotavirus infection in infants and young children. Studies into a norovirus vaccine are underway.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice has also recently recommended giving the vaccine to all 11 and 12 year old children, or unvaccinated teens at high school entry. Because these are only recommendations and not state of Ohio requirements, most insurance companies do not cover this immunization. The meningococcal vaccine is not considered useful in early meningococcal outbreak management.

Yes, a safe and effective vaccine is available. The vaccine is eighty-five percent to one hundred percent effective in preventing four kinds of bacteria (serogroups A, C, Y, W-135) that cause about seventy percent of the disease in the United States. The vaccine is safe, with mild and infrequent side effects, such as redness and pain at the injection site lasting up to two days. After vaccination, immunity develops within seven to ten days remains effective for approximately three to five years.

Viral (aseptic) meningitis is serious but rarely fatal in persons with normal immune systems. Usually, the symptoms last from 7 to 10 days and the person recovers completely. Bacterial meningitis, on the other hand, can be very serious and result in disability or death if not treated promptly. Often, the symptoms of viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis are the same. For this reason, if you think you or your child has meningitis, see your doctor as soon as possible.

Many different viruses can cause meningitis. About 90% of cases of viral meningitis are caused by members of a group of viruses known as enteroviruses, such as coxsackieviruses and echoviruses. Herpesviruses and the mumps virus can also cause viral meningitis.

Viral meningitis is usually diagnosed by laboratory tests of spinal fluid obtained with a spinal tap. It can also be diagnosed by tests that identify the virus in specimens collected from the patient, but these tests are not usually done.

No specific treatment for viral meningitis exists at this time. Most patients recover completely on their own, and doctors often will recommend bed rest, plenty of fluids, and medicine to relieve fever and headache.

The viruses that cause viral meningitis are contagious. Enteroviruses, for example, are very common during the summer and early fall, and many people are exposed to them. However, most infected persons either have no symptoms or develop only a cold or rash with low-grade fever. Typically, fewer than 1 of every 1000 persons infected actually develop meningitis.

We encourage you to discuss with your family physician the advisability of getting the meningitis vaccine. It is available at the Health Center and can be paid for at the time of service or billed to your university account.

The Center for Disease Control recommends that all incoming freshmen receive the meningitis vaccine. In accordance with these recommendations, incoming students living on and off campus should be immunized against meningitis. On-campus waiver forms, for medical or religious exemption, are available on the Residence Life Web site and during Residence Life check-in at the start of each semester.

It is very unusual to die from viral meningitis. It is usually an infection which makes one sick for 1-2 weeks, followed by complete recovery. Most deaths occur either in newborn infants or in persons with serious underlying medical problems, especially disorders with the immune system. Sometimes, the virus which causes meningitis also invades the brain, causing what is called encephalitis, which is a much more serious form of the illness and can cause death.

Meningitis is an infection of the fluid of a person's spinal cord and the fluid that surrounds the brain. Meningitis is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Knowing whether meningitis is caused by a virus or bacterium is important because the severity of illness and the treatment differ.

far as I am aware, only wild caught snails that carry the disease can pass on meningitis and only if they are undercooked and then eaten. Obviously you should wash your hands after you handle any pet, and observe proper hygiene in the regular cleaning of tanks and not allowing food to rot or become moldy.

Yes, there are vaccines against Hib and against some strains of N. meningitidis (meningococcal disease) and many types of Streptococcus pneumonia. The vaccines against Hib are very safe and highly effective. Boynton Health Service can administer this vaccine, but it is not covered under the student services fee. For more information, please call Boynton Health Service at 612-625-3222.

Meningococcal meningitis is a rare but potentially fatal bacterial infection. The disease is expressed as either meningococcal meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, or meningococcemia, the presence of bacteria in the blood.

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Viral hepatitis is inflammation of the liver caused by a virus. There are five identified types of viral hepatitis and each one is caused by a different virus. In the United States, hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are the most common types. Hepatitis A is caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B is caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C is caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Yes. Meningitis due to Meningococcal bacteria occurs six times more frequently amongst freshmen living in residence halls compared to the general population or the same age group not living on college campus. Living in close quarters, sharing of personal items, and the social lifestyles of these folks makes them more susceptible to this potentially very serious disease. It can be prevented to a large extent by the use of Meningitis vaccine.