SDSU Student with Meningitis Dies
UPDATE Oct. 21, 2014 | 10:05 a.m. PT: Sara Stelzer, the 18-year old freshman at San Diego State University (SDSU) who was on life support after possibly contracting meningococcal meningitis, was taken off life support on Saturday, according to multiple reports. The San Diego County coroner has not made a final determination on what's caused the organ failure.
An earlier version of this story said Stelzer had died Thursday, in accordance with a statement send out the SDSU community. While Stelzer's parents have decided to say farewell to their daughter, they have also decided to donate some of her vital organs. The transplantation process has been taking longer than expected, according to the L.A. Times.
Meningitis is a potentially deadly bacterial infection that causes inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and the spinal cord.
Stelzer was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday with flu-like symptoms. On Friday morning, a long line of SDSU students could be seen waiting outside the campus health center for antibiotic treatment, though only those who were in close contact with Stelzer are truly at risk for contracting the disease.
