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5th Sepsis Case Reported In Larimer County

Health officials in Larimer County said a Colorado State University student has contracted meningococcal sepsis.

Kurt Soloman is a Junior sociology major at CSU . He is in the Intensive Care Unit at Poudre Valley Hospital receiving treatment. He's said to be alert and texting, which doctors said are good signs that he is on the road to recovery.

His friend said he knew something was wrong with Solomon and rushed him to the hospital Tuesday night.

"He started feeling sick Tuesday afternoon, but that night he was disoriented and his friends took him to the Poudre Valley Hospital," said Dr. Adrienne LeBailly with the Larimer Co. Dept. of Health and Environment.

Solomon thought he was vaccinated for meningococcal sepsis in 2008, so he skipped the recent vaccination clinic on campus. Actually, Solomon was vaccinated in 2006.

CSU is taking all precautions.

"Our health services have tracked down those with close contact and made sure they have treatment," said CSU spokesman Brad Bohlander.

This is the latest sepsis case in Larimer County. Five people have died from sepsis along the Front Range. That includes CSU student Christina Adame plus 3 members of an adult hockey league including Nick Smith, Brian Wormus and Bill Jubert. One other Metro State student died last April.

We won't know until next week if the student now hospitalized contracted the same strain of the disease.

Health officials said the CSU student has no connection to the three hockey players who died earlier this year.

CSU is planning another vaccination clinic on campus on Friday, Dec. 10.

Symptoms of meningococcal sepsis include fever, headache, loss of appetite, neck stiffness and pain, discomfort when looking at bright lights and skin changes with red-purple spots.

Sepsis is spread through saliva and close contact, so health officials said sharing drinks and utensils should be avoided.

"It's scary, but I got my booster shot. I think people need to wash hands and not share drinks," said CSU student Ryan Pietreck.

 

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