Jump to navigation

  • 24 hour numbers
  • Urgent Care
    • 617-253-1311
  • Urgent Mental Health Concerns
    • 617-253-2916
  • Violence Prevention & Response
    • 617-253-2300
  • All contact numbers
  • Close

 

MIT Medical logo
24-hour Numbers
Log in to HealthELife

 

Search

MIT Logo
  • Find Patient Services Care, claims, and more
  • Find a Provider By name, specialty, or location
  • Make an Appointment Online or over the phone
  • Learn about Health Plans Choices & coverage
  • Stay Healthy at MIT For the whole community
  • Start
    Here
    Info & resources just for you
    • Information For
    • Information for New Students
    • Information for Parents
    • Information for Undergraduate Students
    • Information for Graduate Students
    • Information for Campus Employees
    • Information for Lexington Employees
    • Information for New Employees
    • Information for Internationals
    • Information for Retirees
    • Information for Affiliates

COVID-19 testing | COVID-19 updates | Covid Pass testing results | Covid Pass testing hours

News & Events

MIT Medical News

New meningitis outbreak at UC Santa Barbara, increased vigilance at MIT
December 4, 2013

After last month’s news about an outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease at Princeton University, school officials at the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) this week confirmed four recent cases at that school. As at Princeton, the UCSB cases involve serotype B meningitis, which is not one of the four serotypes (A, C, W135, and Y) included in the meningococcal vaccine routinely given to adolescents and college freshmen in the U.S. But while the meningitis type is the same at both schools, public health officials report that DNA testing has shown they are different strains. “There are no known links between the two outbreaks,” says MIT Medical’s Associate Medical Director Howard Heller, M.D.

While the new outbreak may raise concerns among MIT students and parents, Heller, an infectious disease specialist, notes that the disease is not spread through casual contact. “We are once more reaching out to housemasters, resident advisers, athletic trainers, Z-Center staff, and others to reinforce the standard hygiene messaging among students,” he says. “No sharing of towels, food, or drink. Wash hands frequently.”

While Heller does not believe there is any increased risk to the MIT community at this time, he acknowledges that the new cases are reason for increased vigilance. “We are continuing to monitor the outbreaks in New Jersey and California, constantly reassessing the risk to MIT students, and ready to take any necessary, additional precautions.”

Information about invasive meningococcal disease can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website and include the transcript of a November 25 telebriefing in which CDC officials answer a number of questions about the current outbreaks at Princeton and UCSB.

This news story has not been updated since the date shown. Information contained in this story may be outdated. For current information about MIT Medical’s services, please see relevant areas of the MIT Medical website.

News Links Mobile

  • News Archive
  • Social Media Dashboard
  • Ask Lucy

Archives

  • 2021 (1)
  • 2020 (8)
  • 2019 (5)
  • 2018 (4)
  • 2017 (6)
  • 2016 (11)
  • 2015 (16)
  • 2014 (13)
  • 2013 (16)

SHARE THIS

this block intentionally left blank by CSS

Cambridge
MIT Medical
Building E23
25 Carleton Street
Cambridge, MA 02142
 
M-F 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
617-253-4481
617-258-0656 (TTY)
Lexington
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Annex V
244 Wood Street
Lexington, MA 02421
 
M-F 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
781-981-7080
781-981-6600 (TTY)
Urgent Care
MIT Medical
Building E23
25 Carleton Street
Cambridge, MA 02142
 
M–F 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sat, Sun 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
617-253-1311
617-258-0656 (TTY)

 

FAST FIND

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Follow Us
  • News & Events
  • HealthELife
  • FAQs
  • Forms & Documents
  • Patient Rights
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility
  • Accreditation
  • Advisory Committees
  • Mission & Vision
  • Jobs

INFORMATION FOR:

  • Information For
  • Information for New Students
  • Information for Parents
  • Information for Undergraduate Students
  • Information for Graduate Students
  • Information for Campus Employees
  • Information for Lexington Employees
  • Information for New Employees
  • Information for Internationals
  • Information for Affiliates
  • Information for Retirees
Follow Us Facebook iconTwitter icon
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
© 2021 MIT Medical All rights reserved