rachel futterman

TAMPA - University of South Florida officials said Tuesday they will require meningitis vaccinations of all students living in their residence halls by next fall.

The decision follows the death Monday of Rachel Futterman, a 19-year-old USF sophomore who contracted bacterial meningitis. Local health officials and infectious disease experts said they don't know who passed along the bacteria to Futterman, and they likely never will.

Although state law allows students to opt out of receiving the vaccine, USF spokesman Ken Gullette said the school has the authority to require vaccinations of students living on its campus, or ask for proof they've been immunized.

USF's move may just be the first among other schools. Today, student health directors from Florida's 11 public universities are scheduled to meet with state education leaders in Tallahassee about how best to protect students from the deadliest forms of meningitis. University system Chancellor Mark Rosenberg said the discussions likely will turn to requiring vaccinations statewide.

Gullette said USF President Judy Genshaft is willing to work with the state's university oversight board about such a policy, but is "personally committed to this happening" at USF.

Egilda Terenzi, USF's director of student health services, said she supported Genshaft's move, noting hundreds of students were shaken enough by the sudden death of their schoolmate to get vaccinated at the campus health clinic this week. About 380 students have received the vaccination since Monday, including more than 200 on Tuesday.

Terenzi said she ordered another 200 doses for today.

Gullette said the university has to figure out some details before requiring the vaccine by next fall, such as whether it would allow religious exemptions. Students also would have to bear the cost: Vaccinations at USF's health clinic cost $90 each.

Students living in residence halls at USF now receive information about meningitis, but state law allows students to decide against getting the vaccine. Even those who say they have been immunized don't have to prove it, USF health officials say.

John Sinnott, chief of infectious diseases at USF and Tampa General Hospital, calls the current state law "a cop-out," and said the university's move to require vaccinations "sends a clear message that preventive vaccine is important."

Futterman died at University Community Hospital, two days after she suffered a seizure in the Delta Gamma sorority house on USF's campus. USF officials won't say whether she had been vaccinated against the contagious disease, which inflames the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord.

Her funeral was held Tuesday in Jacksonville.

Not All Affected The Same
Local health officials and infectious disease experts say they likely will never know who infected her.

She could have contracted bacterial meningitis from someone who carried the bacteria but never fell ill, said Warren McDougle, epidemiology manager for the Hillsborough County Health Department.

"This disease is not that easy to get, and not everyone is susceptible equally," McDougle said. "She happened to be susceptible to it."

Bacterial meningitis affects about 3,000 Americans annually. For freshmen living in dormitories, the risk is higher: about five per 100,000 contract the disease, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

Many more, however, have the bacteria but never develop the symptoms of meningitis.

"One to 2 percent of the population has this germ in them and they don't get sick from it," Sinnott said.

Symptoms are sometimes mistaken for the flu and include high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, rash, nausea and vomiting.

The disease can be spread by sharing a drinking cup or eating utensils and by kissing, coughing and sneezing.

Futterman could have contracted the bacteria as early as Tuesday or Wednesday, McDougle said. By now, any carrier who passed it along would have shown symptoms if vulnerable enough. No one else had complained of the illness by Tuesday afternoon, McDougle said.

Medication Given To Allay Fears
Local health officials gave one dose of the antibiotic Cipro to about 70 people who had close contact with Futterman, preventing the illness from developing. The antibiotic is used as much to allay fear and anxiety as to reduce the spread of infection, Sinnott said.

Although Futterman worked at Gator's Dockside restaurant just east of USF's campus, McDougle assured her co-workers they're in no danger unless they came in direct contact with her saliva. None said they did, he said, although a couple of workers called him expressing concern about the illness.

Meanwhile, state scientists are testing a fluid sample of Futterman's to determine which strain of bacterial meningitis she contracted.

The results won't be useful to learn who passed along the infection, but the county and university can learn whether the vaccine they're administering to students wards off the strain that killed Futterman, McDougle said.

The vaccine is effective against 70 percent of the bacterial meningitis strains in circulation, Sinnott said.

Orlando - The University of Southern Florida has confirmed that a student has died due to a suspected case of bacterial meningitis.

19-year-old Rachel Futterman got sick last Friday and was sent to the hospital on Saturday where she never left.

Dr. Egilda Torenzi stated that bacterial meningitis is a devastating disease and that the death is a horrible loss.

He stated that "It's a terrible loss to her family. It's a terrible loss to the university." Torenzi is with the USF student health services.

A memorial service was planned for Monday evening at the M-L-K plaza on the Tampa Campus of USF and drew many students and faculty in what was a night of mourning and remembrance.

Dozens of students who were in direct contact with her are now on heavy antibiotics.

The University of South Florida Tampa Campus community is mourning the death of one of their own, a 19 year old student, Rachel Futterman, who has died of suspected case of bacterial meningitis.

Ms. Futterman became ill on Friday, she was rushed to the hospital the following day, where doctors made a preliminary diagnosis of bacterial meningitis.

Those who may have come in contact with the victim have already received Ciprofloxacin as a prophylactic measure. Students will also receive appropriate vaccinations for a long-term protection.

"Rachel was our student and part of our family," said Judy Genshaft, president of USF. "It has been an emotional weekend, and our hearts and prayers go out to her family and friends. We'll do everything we can to provide counseling and support services to those who need them."


What is bacterial meningitis? -- 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.

What causes it? -- Meningococcal meningitis is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, a leading cause of meningitis and septicemia (or blood poisoning) in teenagers and young adults in the United States. Meningitis and septicemia are the most common manifestations of the disease, although they have been expressed as septic arthritis, pneumonia, brain inflammation and other syndromes.

How many people contract bacterial meningitis each year? How many people die as a result? -- Meningococcal meningitis strikes about 3,000 Americans each year and is responsible for approximately 300 deaths annually. It's estimated that 100 to 125 cases of the disease occur annually on college campuses and 5 to 15 students die as a result.

How is it spread? -- Many people in a population can be a carrier of meningococcal bacteria (up to 11%) and usually nothing happens to a person other than acquiring natural antibodies. Meningococcal bacteria are transmitted through the air via droplets of respiratory secretions and by direct contact with an infected person. Direct contact, for these purposes, is defined as oral contact with shared items, such as cigarettes or drinking glasses, or through intimate contact such as kissing.

What are the symptoms? -- The early symptoms include high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, rash, nausea, vomiting and lethargy, and may resemble the flu. Because the disease progresses rapidly, often in as little as 12 hours, prompt diagnosis and treatment are important to assuring recovery.

Who is at risk? -- Recent evidence indicates that college students residing on campus in dormitories or residence halls appear to be at higher risk than college students overall. Further research recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows freshmen living in dormitories have a sixfold increased risk for meningococcal meningitis than college students overall.

Although anyone can be a carrier of the bacteria that causes meningococcal meningitis, data indicate certain social behaviors, such as exposure to passive and active smoking, bar patronage and excessive alcohol consumption, may put college students at increased risk for the disease. Patients with respiratory infections, compromised immunity, those in close contact to a known case and travelers to endemic areas of the world are also at increased risk. Cases and outbreaks usually occur in the late winter and early spring when school is in session.

Is this considered an "outbreak?" -- An outbreak is considered to have occurred when 10 cases of the same serotype have occurred in 100,000 people with at least three occurring within three months.