Dear Acadia Community,

In follow up to the communication sent last evening from President Ray Ivany concerning the tragic loss of one of our students due to bacterial meningitis, Public Health, with the assistance of Acadia University, is continuing efforts to ensure the wellbeing of our campus community.

Public Health considers the risk to others at Acadia community low because this disease is not spread through casual exposure or through the air. Public Health takes meningitis seriously, and will continue the process of contacting anyone who may have been in direct contact with the infected student.

A letter from Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s Chief Public Health Officer and Acting Regional Medical Officer for Annapolis Valley Health, is attached.  It contains important information and asks that if you, or your family doctor, have any questions, including medical treatment or vaccination, or if you are concerned that you may have been directly exposed, to call 1-844-468-6805 (toll-free in North America). Within Nova Scotia you may also call 811 for non-emergency health advice from a registered nurse. 

Public Health led information sessions for our students on Monday, February 1, and has planned additional sessions on Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 4 p.m. and again at 5:30 p.m. Both sessions will take place in the Michener Lounge in our Students’ Union Building.

With the assistance of Public Health, Acadia has also established a meningitis information website with links, information session dates, and contact information.

We appreciate your support, including expressions of sympathy, for our community at this time.  

Sincerely,

Susan Mesheau

Vice-President, Enrolment and Student Services