Health alert is issued at Penn

A University of Pennsylvania sophomore died yesterday of meningococcal meningitis, prompting school officials to issue a health alert for those who were in close contact with her.

Anne Ryan, 19, was hospitalized Saturday afternoon in critical condition, and died early yesterday morning at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, according to Penn officials, who relayed the news in an e-mail to all students and staff yesterday.

Penn Student Health Service was arranging treatment for anyone with close and prolonged contact with Ryan, including her roommates - she lived off-campus - and family members.

The disease is not easily spread between people, and early treatment with antibiotics can reduce the disease's fatality rate to below 15 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Meningococcal meningitis is caused by bacteria and is more dangerous that viral meningitis, according to the CDC. It is spread through prolonged contact with a person's oral or respiratory secretions.

Evelyn Wiener, director of the student health service, said the disease was not easy to contract.

"We very, very rarely see a second case that's a result of the first one," Wiener said.

Treatment is generally limited to roommates, boyfriends, girlfriends, best friends and family members - anyone with "ongoing face-to-face contact," Wiener said.

Being in class with someone, standing on line next to someone, being at a party or even hugging someone is not a danger, she said.

About a dozen people were targeted to receive the antibiotic ciprofloxacin as of last night, Wiener said.

At the request of the family, the university would not release further information about Ryan, including her hometown or when she first showed symptoms.

Those who had extended contact with Ryan can call 215-349-8245. More information on the disease is on the Web at http://www.upenn.edu/about/meningitis_info.php.