MURFREESBORO, TN (WSMV) -
Health officials at Middle Tennessee State University say there are no other reports of bacterial meningitis after a student died from the illness Monday.
Hundreds of students who had contact with that young man have now been given powerful antibiotics, but after all of that, doctors are still trying to get more information out.
Jacob Nunley, 18, died Monday at Vanderbilt University Medical Center from what doctors believe is bacterial meningitis.
For so many students, Tuesday was spent dealing with the shock of losing a fellow classmate and friend. But health officials spent the day speaking with more than 500 people to determine if they had direct contact with Nunley.
Dr. Eric Clark, with MTSU Health Services, said ciprofloxacin was distributed to those who may have been exposed to bacterial meningitis.
"It has to be direct contact, close contact, with the student who had active meningitis. It's not a contact of a contact of a contact," Clark said.
Doctors say the three main symptoms to watch out for are fever, headache and stiff neck.
"This one was extremely quick, and that's the problem," Clark said.
Clark said it is a good idea for anyone who attends a university or lives in a large group setting, like a dormitory, should get a vaccination.
Tennessee colleges and schools are required to make parents and students aware of the meningitis vaccine, but getting one is not mandatory.
In a statement, staff with Sigma Alpha Epsilon, of which Nunley was a member at MTSU, said health officials have deemed the SAE fraternity house at MTSU safe for occupancy, but chapter members have received vaccinations as a precaution.
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