University of Pennsylvania students are on high alert following three cases of meningococcal meningitis, officials said Monday.

 

Moreover, the Philadelphia Health Department announced it investigates a fourth possible case of meningitis.

 

The university released a statement saying the three students who were hospitalized with the disease last week are improving. Over the weekend, two other students were hospitalized with flu-like symptoms, but there was no sign of the disease in their case.

 

As a precaution, more than 2,100 students have been given antibiotics from university health officials since the first report of a meningitis outbreak was revealed.

 

“It's a little scary. I guess it's because most people don't realize that it's an issue, and they can actually be in danger,” one student said.

 

The source of infection seems to be a fraternity or sorority event, according to university officials. As a precaution, all on and off-campus parties were called off this past weekend.

 

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. It is usually caused by bacteria or viruses, but it can also be caused by certain medications or illnesses. Depending on the cause of the infection, meningitis can resolve on its own in a couple of weeks — or it can be a life-threatening emergency. The symptoms of meningitis vary and depend both on the age of the person contracting it and on the cause of the infection. Common symptoms include fever, lethargy, irritability, headache, photophobia, stiff neck, skin rashes and seizures.

 

University officials recommended that anybody suffering from one of the symptoms above see a doctor immediately.