2012 Live The CoLLege experienCe - The University of Akron

Medical Stuff
(Sounds Scary, But We Want To Keep You Safe)
We want to help you stay healthy! Here’s information
about meningitis and hepatitis B that Ohio law requires
you to know. You’ll find more information at www.odh.state.oh.us.
Meningococcal Disease
Meningococcal bacteria can cause meningitis (inflammation
of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) or sepsis (an
infection of the bloodstream). Meningitis symptoms include
stiff neck, headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, confusion and
drowsiness. Symptoms of sepsis include fever, shock and
coma. Every year about 2,600 people in the United States
are infected with meningococcus through contact with an
infected person. You’re at risk if you eat or sleep in the same
place as an infected person. College students, particularly
those in residence halls, have a slightly increased risk of
getting meningococcal disease.
The good news: the meningococcal vaccine
can prevent four types of the disease,
including two of the three most common
types in the United States.
Hepatitis B
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) affects the liver. It can cause a
short-term illness that leads to loss of appetite, stomach
pain, tiredness, diarrhea, vomiting, jaundice and pain in
muscles and joints. It also can cause a long-term illness,
which results in people carrying the virus for the rest of their
lives and infecting other people. Chronic hepatitis B may
cause liver damage, liver cancer and even death. Each
year, 80,000 people in the United States, mostly young
adults, are infected with HBV. The virus is spread through
contact with blood or other body fluids of an infected
person. You can catch the virus through unprotected sex, or
sharing drug needles or personal items such as razors and
toothbrushes with an infected person.
That’s it for the scary stuff. Now for the
good part: the hepatitis B vaccine can
prevent HBV infection.
Both vaccines are available at most physicians’ offices. You’ll
find more details about these vaccines at www.cdc.gov/
vaccines/pubs/vis/default.htm
The Official Version
The Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Section 1713.55 states
that beginning with the academic year that commences
on or after July 1, 2005, an institution of higher education
shall not permit a student to reside in on-campus housing
unless the student (or parent if the student is younger than
18 years of age) discloses whether the student has been
vaccinated against meningococcal disease and hepatitis
B by submitting a meningitis and hepatitis B vaccination
disclosure statement.
ORC Section 3701.133 states that the Ohio Department
of Health (ODH) shall make available on its Web site
information about meningitis and hepatitis B, the
risks associated with the diseases and the availability and
effectiveness of the vaccines. ODH shall also make available
on its Web site, in a format suitable for downloading, a
meningitis and hepatitis B vaccination status statement form
that complies with the guidelines outlined in ORC Section
3701.133 (B).
The Plain English Version
As part of the online application, you will be required to
submit information about your vaccinations related to
Hepatitis B and Meningococcal. If you have not had the
vaccinations, simply enter "no" is those fields. For your
convenience, we have provided links within the application
for you to review for additional information.
Got Questions?
If you need more information, please contact Health Services
at 330-972-7808 or the Office of Residence Life and Housing
at 330-972-7800.
22