The University of Wyoming student who contracted meningitis is doing well and is expected to make a full recovery, UW says.

The student is still currently in the hospital. Additional testing was not able to determine the type of meningitis the student has.

The student was hospitalized on Oct. 25 after being diagnosed with meningitis. UW Student Health Director Dr. Joanne Steane said UW and the Wyoming Department of Health were seeking out those who had close personal contact with the student so they could be given preventative treatment.

However, the university said the risk of contracting meningitis was relatively low. UW said while some types of meningitis can be contagious, it is not usually spread as easily as viruses that cause the common cold or the flu.

Meningitis is a swelling of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord and is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Some cases of meningitis, such as bacterial meningitis, can be fatal if medical attention is not sought, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The symptoms of meningitis include a fever, headache and a stiff neck. UW said students who are concerned they have meningitis should contact the UW Student Health Service. UW faculty and staff should contact their personal doctor, Ivinson Memorial Hospital or an urgent care facility.

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