A 22 year-old University of Georgia student died Saturday from a bacterial infection believed to be septicemia. Doctors initially thought Michael Hendrickson died from meningitis. Autopsy results are expected to confirm the cause of death. In both cases, the infection is caused by a bacterium spread through close contact with others, such as sharing eating utensils, kissing, or being coughed upon. UGA health officials say they’ve given preventive antibiotics to 30 people who had contact with Hendrickson. Liz Rachun, a spokeswoman for the UGA Health Center, says that although the disease is very rare, students should know the symptoms: “[They include] fevers and chills, very severe headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, and purplish rash, which is definitely a sign of meningitis.” Officials expect Hendrickson’s infection is an isolated case. UGA has not had a documented case of meningitis since 1998.
