Meningitis is avoidable with adequate rest and proper nutrition. Sharing saliva is the most common way the disease is spread, although poor health increases the risk.

An ISU student was hospitalized with bacterial meningitis Wednesday but was in stable condition. The university contacted those with close contact to the diagnosed student and held an informative session to answer questions and provide antibiotics.

The student’s name will not be released because of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, commonly known as HIPAA, which protects patient privacy.

Jolene Frette, coordinator for the First Nurse call center at Mary Greeley Medical Center, said keeping in good health can help students avoid meningitis.

“Keeping your immune system up is very important,” she said.

Frette recommended plenty of sleep, good nutrition and lots of fluids to help students prevent sickness.

An immunization can prevent the disease but is useless if taken after exposure, she said.

A meningitis immunization is not required by the university because Iowa law does not require it, said Marc Shulman, staff physician at Thielen Student Health Center.

“It goes beyond the university,” he said.

The vaccine is available at the student health center. One vaccination lasts three years and costs less than $100, according to the center’s Web site.

The idea of a confirmed meningitis case on campus has some students concerned.

“I watched a news story about meningitis that listed stiff neck as a symptom,” said Sarah Noble, senior in architecture. “I first thought, ‘Do I have a stiff neck?’ But I don’t, so I’m OK.”

She said she is careful not to share chapstick, silverware or glasses.

“It needs to be taken seriously,” Noble said. “I’m not crazy, I just want to be careful.”

Shulman said only those with very close contact to the diagnosed student are at high risk.

“Sharing saliva is a really high risk factor,” he said.

According to the student health center Web site, common ways students can contract the disease include kissing, coughing and sharing anything from a drink to an eating utensil.

Schulman said students close to the diagnosed student were concerned, but not upset. Other students are not at risk.

He said there was no need for classes to be canceled, as contact was not close enough for classmates of the diagnosed student to be at risk.

“Sharing a dorm doesn’t necessarily put you at high risk,” Schulman said.

Frette said anyone with the symptoms of meningitis — high fever, chills, headache, stiff neck, rash, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or arm or leg pain — should inform his or her physician.

“The earlier it’s caught, the better,” she said.