TN Legislation Targets Meningitis

Legislation requiring incoming students at Tennessee public higher education institutions to show proof of immunization against meningitis is expected to be on the Senate floor today. The measure, delayed from last week, is sponsored by Democratic Senator Lowe Finney and House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh.  Finney didn’t give a reason for the delay.  Meningococcal (meh-nin-joh-KAH-cul) meningitis can be spread through such contact as sharing drink bottles.  Ten percent of people who contract the disease die, sometimes within 24 hours.  Fitzhugh says a Middle Tennessee State University freshman died last year after contracting the disease.  He says students who live in close quarters are more susceptible to the disease than others.