KRS 164.2865: Legislative findings and declarations relating to meningococcal

meningitis disease.

The General Assembly hereby finds and declares that:

(1) Meningococcal meningitis disease is a potentially fatal infectious and contagious

bacterial disease that can be spread by coughing and sharing drinking glasses;

(2) Since the disease often presents itself with flu -like symptoms, many victims of the

disease die before it is even diagnosed. From 1991 to 1997, the cases of

meningococcal meningitis disease in young a dults fifteen (15) to twenty -four (24)

years of age nearly doubled;

(3) Survivors of meningococcal meningitis disease may have severe after -effects of the

disease, including an intellectual disability, hearing loss, and loss of limbs;

(4) College freshmen residing on campus in dormitories or residence halls have a risk

of meningococcal meningitis disease over seven (7) times higher than do college

students overall;

(5) The meningococcal meningitis disease vaccine has been shown to be eighty -five

percent (85%) to ninety percent (90%) effective in producing antibodies against the

most common strains of the disease; and

(6) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that college

freshmen and their parents be educated about meningococcal meningitis disease and

that vaccination should be made easily available to freshmen and undergraduate

students who want to reduce their risk of disease.