SDSU Student From Moorpark On Life Support After Contracting Meningitis

MOORPARK (CBSLA.com/AP) — An 18-year-old San Diego State University student with meningitis remained on life support late Friday night but she was not expected to recover.

Sara Stelzer, a freshman and Kappa Delta sorority member, was hospitalized with the bacterial infection on Tuesday.

The school announced Friday morning that she had died but later revised that because the family was keeping her on life support over the possibility that her organs may be donated, university spokesman Greg Block said Friday night.

The family had given permission for the school to release the death notification, Block said.

"Her parents told us...that they had signed her death certificate and said their goodbyes," he said.

"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," Block said in a statement.

It was unclear how long the family would keep the teen on life support. In the meantime, the campus is making counseling available to students, Block said.

SDSU and San Diego County health officials were trying to reach as many as 400 people who may have been in contact with the Stelzer.

The freshman was a member of a sorority and had recently attended two fraternity parties and her sister's 21st birthday party, officials said.

Dr. Gregg Lichtenstein, director of student health services at the university, told students, faculty and staff in an email that several people have been treated and he recommended antibiotics as a preventive measure for anyone who was in contact with the woman.

The county Health and Human Services Agency has said Stelzer, who lived on campus, may have exposed others to the bacteria between Oct. 5 and Oct. 14.

The university has alerted students to common symptoms, like fever, intense headaches, lethargy and stiff necks. The bacteria can be spread through sharing drinking glasses, eating utensils, cigarettes or water bottles.

On Friday, students streamed to the campus health center to get antibiotics, U-T San Diego reported.

"It's just very surreal. It's very odd," said Haley Lu, a freshman who saw Stelzer on Monday — a day before Stelzer was hospitalized.

She described Stelzer as "quiet, hardworking and very sweet."

University officials confirmed that Stelzer was vaccinated against meningitis, which is not required for students at Cal State schools.

Stelzer was also in Moorpark over the weekend for her alma mater's homecoming festivities. Ventura County health officials believe up to 10 students may have been exposed to meningitis when Stelzer helped friends prepare for the dance.

"People who may have been at risk were immediately identified and were seen by a physician to start antibiotics as a precautionary measure," Dr. Kelli Hayes, Superintendent of the Moorpark Unified School District said in a statement.

Stelzer was not on campus for the homecoming dance. However, it was unknown if she attended the football game the night before, Moorpark High School's principal said.

Meanwhile, friends and former students of Moorpark High held a bake sale Friday to raise funds to assist Stelzer's family with expenses. A moment of silence was also held before the fundraiser.

San Diego County has reported six cases of meningitis this year, including one that resulted in the death of a high school student in February. The county has had an average of 10 cases a year over the past five years.

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