JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri State Sen. Gina Walsh, D-Bellefontaine Neighbors, has filed legislation to protect students in Missouri from contracting the deadly meningococcal disease, commonly known as meningitis. The bill (Senate Bill 748) seeks to ensure those most at risk for the dangerous disease are properly vaccinated against it by requiring college students living on campus in Missouri to receive the vaccine before attending college.

 Hundreds of people die, and many more are hospitalized each year, because of diseases like meningitis — diseases that can be prevented by vaccination. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1,000 to 2,600 Americans contract meningitis annually, and one in 10 dies. Anyone can get meningococcal disease, but it is most common in infants less than one year of age and young adults, around ages 16 to 21 years old. College students living in dorms are at especially increased risk because of communal living situations.

Meningitis disease affects the lining of the brain and spinal cord when it is infected with certain bacteria. The disease progresses quickly, starting with flu-like symptoms that escalate rapidly, sometimes leaving survivors with damage to the nervous system, including hearing loss, epilepsy, limb loss and cognitive impairment. “I urge parents and students to visit their local clinic or call their doctor to become informed on the symptoms and how to best protect themselves from this devastating disease,” said Sen. Walsh. “My hope is that if passed, Senate Bill 748 brings awareness to the severity of this dangerous, highly contagious disease and that hundreds more youth of all ages will get protected through vaccination.” 

For more information on meningitis vaccines from the Centers for Disease Control, click here or visit www.cdc.gov. 

To follow the status of Senator Walsh’s legislative actions, visit her Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov/walsh.