Meningitis outbreak at the University of Oregon

USATF Junior Outdoor Championships

June 25-28, 2015
Eugene, Oregon

The 2015 USATF Outdoor Championships will be held in conjunction with this meet.

Special communications from The University of Oregon:

University of Oregon statement about the Meningitis outbreak for campus visitors:

The CDC and Oregon health authorities have indicated that there is no evidence that campus visitors are at increased risk of getting meningococcal disease from casual contact with the University of Oregon students, faculty or staff.

Meningitis is generally transmitted through direct exchange of respiratory and throat secretions by close personal contact, such as sharing drinks or kissing. Fortunately, none of the bacteria that cause meningitis are as contagious as the common cold or the flu and the bacteria cannot live outside a person’s body for an extended period of time.

People who have meningococcal disease do not always show symptoms. To prevent the spread of the disease, do not share items that touched another person’s mouth. These items include drinking cups, eating utensils, cosmetics, lip balm, cigarettes and pipes.  Be aware that kissing can also spread the disease.

Currently, the guidelines provided by the CDC only authorize the use of the newly approved meningitis B vaccine under outbreak situations which limits its availability to UO students only.

For more information about meningitis, visit meningitis.uoregon.edu.