Students preparing for the upcoming semester by making lists of school supplies are being urged by health experts to add another item to their to-do list: A doctor's visit for a meningitis vaccination.

College students living in residence halls are six times more likely to contract meningitis, a potentially fatal bacterial meningitis that causes inflammation in the linings of the brain and spinal cord, according to the Meningitis Foundation of America.

"It is vital to get the word out about vaccination. It is such an important vaccine," said Cindy Dominick, registered nurse at the Concentra Medical Center.

The meningitis vaccination, good for up to three years, is 85 to 100 percent effective in preventing the infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site.

If untreated, meningitis can cause permanent brain damage, hearing loss, organ failure, loss of limbs and even death.

On its Web site, the Meningitis Foundation of America notes that an estimated 100 to 125 cases occur each year on college campuses, resulting in five to 12 deaths.

Symptoms often resemble the flu, with a high fever, nausea, headache, vomiting and a stiff neck.

Confined residence hall living and added stress from schoolwork can weaken a student's immune system and lead to an increased risk of contracting the infection, said Carrie Torrington, a registered nurse and coordinator at Campus Health Service.

Bar patronage, smoking and irregular sleep patterns can also increase the risk of catching the infection, which is spread through secretions from the mouth, nose, and throat,

Anyone who has close contact with an infected person is at risk of infection, but with early detection. Meningitis can be treated with little to no lasting effects, using a single dose of the antibiotic Cipro, reports the Meningitis Foundation of America.

"We urge students to be concerned, be aware, but certainly not to worry," Torrington said, adding that the last reported case of the infection at the UA occurred in 1997.

"Yeah I am definitely concerned," said Darren Brill, an undeclared freshman. "I am actually getting the vaccination later today."

Campus Health, 1541 E. University Blvd., provides the meningitis vaccination for $86, which can be billed to the student's bursar accounts. Students are encouraged to make an appointment for the vaccine, but walk-ins are also welcome.

Concentra Medical Center at 4402 E. Broadway Blvd. provides the meningitis vaccination by appointment for $82.

To get the vaccine:
Call Campus Health Services at (520) 621-6490.

For more information about meningitis:
http://www.musa.org, Meningitis Foundation of America
http://www.cdc.gov, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention