Meningitis Kills NWACC Student

College Contacted Monday By Health Departments

— A NorthWest Arkansas Community College student died Sunday night after contracting bacterial meningitis, college officials said Monday.

Washington County Coroner Roger Morris confirmed the 18-year-old student was Conner Burchfield of Fayetteville. He said Burchfield died in Springfield, Mo.

The college was contacted Monday by the Benton and Washington county health departments about the case, according to Steven Hinds, college public relations director. A news release from the college called it a “meningococcal infection.”

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the student, his family and friends during this difficult time,” said Dr. Steven Gates, college senior vice president for Learning and Provost.

Burchfield was last recorded as being on campus Nov. 13, Hinds said. Burchfield signed into the Academic Success Computer lab on the Bentonville campus. The lab was closed for cleaning Monday, Hinds said.

Students, faculty and staff received an email from the college about the situation Monday, Hinds said.

“We have included the information that he was in the computer lab on Nov. 13,” Hinds said. “We have been told he was contagious on or after Nov. 12.”

Hinds said the last class Burchfield had on campus was on Nov. 8 — prior to the contagious time frame.

Gary Wheeler, branch chief of infectious disease with the Arkansas Health Department, said Arkansas has six confirmed cases of bacterial meningitis this year.

“That is within the range of cases that we would see in an average year,” Wheeler said. “Ninety-five percent of cases are spontaneous and they are not related to any type of outbreak.”

Symptoms of bacterial meningitis include stiff neck, severe headache and an altered mental state, Wheeler said.

“It can really have several different patterns in terms of how quick it can attack,” Wheeler said. “It can attack in the morning and then you are in ICU eight hours later. Someone might have a mild illness for a few days and then a week later they are serious.”

Meningococcal meningitis is spread by contact such as kissing or sharing a toothbrush or utensils along with close contact, Wheeler said.

“If you are sitting on an airplane it would take at least eight hours before we would consider you at an increased risk,” Wheeler said. “It requires pretty close contact to put you at risk for acquiring an infection.”

Wheeler said factors that lead to the contraction of meningitis are usually complex.

“It depends on the individual’s resistance to the disease and their exposure to a bacteria they haven’t seen before,” Wheeler said.

The Arkansas Health Department treats those in close contact after a case of meningitis is confirmed. That includes family members, those who live in the same household, boyfriends or girlfriends and those who had extensive contact with the person at work or school, Wheeler said.

“The department determines who is at risk,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler added there is a vaccine the department recommends teenagers entering junior high school receive. He said a booster is suggested between the ages of 15 or 16.

“It is recommended for teenagers who in some ways have the highest contact with each other,” Wheeler said.

Web Watch

Bacterial Meningitis

For more information about bacterial meningitis visit cdc.org.

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