10-19-viral-meningitis

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The university has recently been informed that a JMU student has been diagnosed with viral meningitis. A small number of other cases are suspected and are awaiting confirmation. Those students are receiving medical care in the community. At this time there have been no reported cases of bacterial meningitis, which is the more severe form.

The Virginia Health Department is aware of the situation and, with the assistance of clinical staff at the JMU University Health Center, is coordinating communication with others who may have been in close contact with the infected students. If preventative medications are needed, they will be provided to those students free of charge at the UHC Urgent Care clinic.

Despite this being a form of meningitis, viral meningitis should not raise alarm the way bacterial meningitis does. It is easily preventable and often resolves without issue in healthy individuals. By keeping up good hand hygiene and other prevention practices, you will help yourself stay protected from viral meningitis and many other infectious diseases.

 Additional information about viral meningitis can be found on the Centers for Disease Control website https://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/viral.html. The University Health Center’s Patient Advocate is also available to address additional student concerns at schaefrh@jmu.edu.  

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Published: Thursday, October 19, 2017

Last Updated: Thursday, November 2, 2023

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