Health officials are trying to identify all persons who were in close contact with the 26-year-old Central Michigan University student who died of a bacterial form of meningitis.

Lamott Smith, a senior at CMU died Wednesday in Spectrum Butterworth Hospital after being admitted for a general illness, but it turned out that he had bacterial meningitis. According to reports, Smith may have contracted the disease in the Mt. Pleasant area, but became ill while visiting a friend in Coopersville, where he attended a party.

Meningitis is a deadly bacterial disease if not immediately diagnosed and treated. Most cases occur in infants and adolescents. It is characterized by swelling of the tissue around the spinal cord and the brain and can cause seizures, brain damage, and memory loss. Its symptoms include fever, headache, and stiff neck.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 1,400 and 2,800 cases of meningitis occur each year in the U.S. alone and 10 to 14 percent of patients die as a result, often within a day or two of infection.

 The health department, CMU and Central Michigan District Health Department officials are working to identify people who were in “close, personal contact” with Smith between April 22 and Wednesday at CMU in Mt. Pleasant and in Coopersville, the Detroit Free Press reports.

These people, even those who have been vaccinated against meningitis, may still be at risk. Therefore, they are urged to visit the nearest hospital emergency room immediately to get medical treatment if necessary or to call health officials in either Ottawa County at (616) 396-5266 or at CMU at (989) 773-5921.

Of the people who have been identified as close personal contacts of Smith, 70 have already been treated for the bacterial form of meningitis by private physicians, CMU University Health Services or by local district Health department.