Lane County Public Health confirmed that Lauren Jones’ death was caused by meningococcemia. Jones is the fourth confirmed case of meningococcemia at the University of Oregon this year and the first death from the bacteria, which is also known as Neisseria meningitidis.
“As you’ve seen, it can be minute by minute.”
The University Health Center will offer large scale vaccinations in the coming weeks, more information to follow. Meningococcemia is a bacteria that can cause meningitis, but it is not meningitis. There have been no documented cases of meningitis at UO this year.