SDSU Mourns “Vibrant” Student Who Died After Contracting Meningitis

SDSU officials confirmed Friday the death of 18-year-old Sara Stelzer, a Moorpark High School graduate who was diagnosed earlier this week with meningococcal meningitis

San Diego State University officials issued a warning for students who might have been exposed to a meningococcal infection after the death of an 18-year-old classmate from Moorpark hospitalized earlier this week due to flu-like symptoms.

The student, who previously was healthy, was admitted to a hospital Tuesday. Hundreds of San Diego State University students were told to get antibiotics after the student was hospitalized in critical condition with meningococcal disease, school officials confirmed Thursday.

School officials confirmed Friday the death of 18-year-old Sara Stelzer, a Moorpark High School graduate.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our students to this terrible illness," said Eric Rivera, vice president for student affairs. "After speaking with her family, we know that Sara was a vibrant young woman who loved San Diego State, her friends and the time she spent at our university.  It is always difficult when a young life is lost, especially when that person is part of our SDSU family. 

"We will do all we can to support Sara's family and our campus community during this difficult time."

The university said later Friday the teen was on life support for a short time while the hospital looked for organ recipients. SDSU released the following statement:

"The university has been supporting and in ongoing communication with Sara's family to monitor her condition. The family informed us last night that they had decided to say farewell to their daughter and they gave us permission to put out a statement this morning to that end.

"There was a possibility that Sara would be kept on life support for a short time while the hospital looked for recipients of some of her vital organs. Our message this morning was acting in accordance with the family's wishes to offer condolences to our university community and provide information to our grieving students."

Several Facebook and Twitter posts from people identifying themselves as friends and classmates, including several from Moorpark High School in Ventura County, expressed condolences. Stelzer was identified in SDSU's statement as a freshman studying pre-communiciations.

The county Health and Human Services Agency and SDSU health officials  were working to notify anyone who may have been exposed to the meningococcal bacteria. Officials at Moorpark High School confirmed she was at her Ventura County home last weekend, and that county health officials have identified at least 10 people who had contact with her during that time.

All have been examined by doctors and were provided antibiotics, according to high school officials. Stelzer was helping friends with their hair and makeup before a high school dance, which she did not attend, during her hometown visit, said Carrie Pentis, Moorpark High School principal.

The school district confirmed that Stelzer attended the Moorpark High School homecoming football game last Friday night.

Approximately 300 to 400 people are being notified including all members of the Kappa Delta sorority and anyone who attended two specific fraternity parties on Oct. 8 and 9. The university sent a campus-wide notification to alert students of the health threat.

Meningococcal disease refers to any illness caused by the type of bacteria called Neisseria meningitis, also known as meningococcus, according to the CDC.

These illnesses can be life-threatening infections of the lining of the brain and spinal cord as well as bloodstream infections.

The disease can be spread by sharing cigarettes or pipes, drinking out of the same water bottles or beverage containers or through other intimate contact like kissing.

"While meningococcal disease can be serious and deadly, it is not spread through casual contact. Therefore, the risk to those who were not in close, direct contact is minimal," said Dr. Wilma Wooten, San Diego County public health officer. "Meningococcal disease is spread through close contact with the infected individual. We are working to notify all who may have been exposed to the disease."

Because it takes one to 10 days for someone exposed to the disease to see symptoms, others may have it and not know it.

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