Employee at Argosy University Died from Meningitis

ALAMEDA, CA: An employee at Argosy University in Alameda died from bacterial meningitis recently, a spokeswoman for the Alameda County Public Health Department said today. However, spokeswoman Sherri Willis said there’s no indication that the employee’s death is linked to a recent cluster of three Santa Clara University students who have been diagnosed with meningococcal infections.

Willis said the health department notified Argosy on Jan. 25 that the employee had died from meningitis. She said the situation at Argosy is different than the situation at Santa Clara University, where the school has offered antibiotics and vaccines for the rest of the campus community.

Willis said Argosy only has “a tiny campus,” no other cases have been linked to the employee who died and only a small number of students and staff had contact with the employee. Those people were identified and given medication as a precautionary measure but there isn’t a need to offer antibiotics and vaccines to everyone at the campus, she said. In addition, the strain of meningitis that the employee had is “completely different” than the strain of meningitis that the Santa Clara University students have, Willis said.

Argosy University said in a statement, “Because bacterial meningitis is typically contracted through direct, close contact with someone who is infected, we have been advised that there is no indication of a significant health risk to the broader community.”

The university said it has informed the campus community of what it has learned as well as the signs and symptoms of meningitis. It said it also has provided the campus community with instructions on how to access health resources if needed. Argosy officials said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the employee’s family and loved ones during this terribly difficult time.”

Argosy University is a system of for-profit colleges owned by the Education Management System and has 28 locations in the U.S.

Editor’s Note: Bay City News Service originally reported the person who died was a professor. The decedent was an employee.

By Bay City News

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