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Nov 17, 2005 3:00 pm US/Eastern
(1010 WINS) (POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.) A Marist College student from Long Island died of bacterial meningitis Wednesday evening, the school said.

Caitlin Boyle, 19, of Babylon, was taken to St. Francis Hospital Monday, said Deborah DiCaprio, Marist's vice president of student affairs.

Meningococcal meningitis is an infection of the fluid around the spinal cord and brain. The bacteria can spread through coughing, kissing and sharing utensils or glasses.

Michael Caldwell, Dutchess County health commissioner, said records showed Boyle received a meningitis vaccination. But he said it doesn't protect against every strain of bacteria.

College spokesman Tim Massie said antibiotics were distributed to those who had close contact with Boyle but are not being given to the general student population because the county Public Health Department has determined doing so is unnecessary. Public Health officials have been working to identify those people who came into close contact with Boyle.

Symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, rash and lethargy.

Another female student at Marist died of the disease in 1996. The private college has about 4,800 students.

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I was a freshman in 1996 when a girl on a floor below me died of Menigitsis during finals week