Bay area professor dies from meningitis

A Bay Area university professor has died from meningococcal meningitis.

KNTV-TV reports that health officials confirmed Thursday that a professor at Argosy University in Alameda died from meningitis. Alameda County Public Health Department spokeswoman Sherri Willis says there is no indication that the death is connected to a recent cluster of Santa Clara University students who have been diagnosed with the infections.

Argosy was notified Jan. 25 that the professor had died. Willis says no one else at the school has been diagnosed with the illness.

Three students at Santa Clara University have been diagnosed with meningitis. Two remain hospitalized. The third student was discharged in good condition.

Meningococcal disease is a rare but serious illness caused by bacteria that can infect the blood or areas around the brain and spinal cord.