In the beginning of fall semester, a City College student was infected with the dangerous disease spinal meningitis, but experts say there are several ways to take precautions.

“[One way is] just to stay healthy,” said Susan Broderick, Director of Student Health and Wellness. “Sleeping well, eating well and exercising well are preventing actions.”

Spinal meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord, and the disease can spread in numerous ways, however the most common is by bacterial infection.

“For example you shouldn’t share toothbrushes,” Broderick said, “and you should be careful with accepting drinks from people you don’t know.”

For college students living in dorms and cramped apartments meningitis can, though rare, be fairly easy to catch. Since it’s spread so simply, living in close quarters and sharing all kinds of things can be a risk.

Kissing, sharing utensils or food and drinks are all possible ways the infection can be spread.

Consequently, drinking games like beer pong can also be a risk factor if not played with some caution. Changing cups more than once is a good idea if you want to reduce the risk of catching meningitis, and other diseases too.

However, meningitis is not airborne, so being near someone who’s been in contact with an infected person should not put you at risk.

Broderick also denies the previously reported statement that you can be infected by meningitis from the ocean.

“It’s not true; you have to be in direct contact with the person to get infected.”

Other tips for preventing an infection are simply to reduce contact with people you don’t know well. You can be aware if your friends seem to show symptoms, but there is no way of knowing with strangers.

People can get vaccinated for meningitis, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends all college freshmen get vaccinated; something not all students are informed about.

The student infected by meningitis is currently being treated in hospital, and she’s stabilized. All the students who were at risk of being infected by the student have been given treatment with antibiotics and are, for now, out of danger.

The symptoms of meningitis are fever, headache, nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light are symptoms of meningitis, but can be difficult to distinguish from common flu symptoms. The telling sign is the severe neck pain, caused by inflammation of the spinal cord lining.

The CDC estimates the amount of people infected by meningitis in the U.S. to be around 1.000 – 2.600 persons per year. Though many victims survive, the disease can give rise to severe damage of the brain and the necessity to amputate arms or legs.

The incubation time for the disease is approximately 10 days before the symptoms start to show.

Those with questions about meningitis, or the symptoms, are directed to talk to the Student Health Services on campus.