MTSU officials say that anyone who had direct, close contact with a Middle Tennessee State University student who died early Monday should contact Student Health Services or another health care provider for an evaluation. We're told Jacob Nunley, 18, a freshman from Dyersburg, Tenn., died around 8am Monday at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Nunley was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and lived in the fraternity's house on Greek Row on the MTSU campus. Officials say the state health department is investigating the cause of death. Vanderbilt officials said they were treating this as a possible case of meningitis and instructed anyone who may have had direct, close contact with Nunley from Sept. 2 to Sept. 10 to contact a health professional for evaluation. Direct, close contact means coming in touch with nose or throat discharges, which includes kissing, coughing, sneezing and sharing drinking glasses, eating utensils or cigarettes. Students have been posting about the tragedy on Twitter and Facebook. A source says Nunley was taken by ambulance from the frat house around Midnight Monday morning, and died just 8 hours later. Student health services will be open until 6pm tonight. The department says meningitis is a serious disease that strikes very quickly, but it can be prevented. Experts say meningitis is frequently misdiagnosed because its symptoms are much like the symptoms of the flu or migraine.  Symptoms of meningitis include sudden high fever, headache, stiff neck, confusion, nausea, vomiting, exhaustion and discomfort looking into bright lights.  In some people, a rash may appear after the disease has taken hold.  Other people may experience seizures. Symptoms can progress very quickly.  If any of these symptoms are present and are sudden and severe, don't wait! Seek medical help immediately.  For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control website, http://www.mtsu.edu/healthservices/, contact MTSU Student Health Services at 615.898.2988 or the Rutherford County Health Department at 615.898.7880.
State Health Dept. Investigating Cause of MTSU Student's Death, Friends Say Bacterial Meningitis