At the University of California Santa Barbara, four students have been infected by a strain of meningitis, leading the college authorities to suspend some social and fraternity events, reports the Washington Post.  The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department confirmed the fourth case on Monday.

This outbreak is the second U.S. outbreak this year, with the first also occurring in a university setting.  According to 6 ABC Action News, New Jersey state health officials declared a meningitis outbreak on the Princeton University campus in November. At that time, there had been seven cases at the university since March, prompting campus and state health officials to work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) aiming to prevent the further spread of the disease.  Now, an eighth case has been confirmed in New Jersey related to the same outbreak.

According to the Mayo Clinic, meningitis typically results from contagious infections. Common bacteria or viruses that can cause meningitis can spread through coughing, sneezing, kissing, or sharing eating utensils, a toothbrush or a cigarette.  The CDC reports that meningitis is a disease caused by the inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord known as the meninges. The inflammation is usually caused by an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.  Meningitis may develop in response to a number of causes, usually bacteria or viruses, but meningitis can also be caused by physical injury, cancer or certain drugs.  The severity of illness and the treatment for meningitis differ depending on the cause. Those who survive can be permanently paralyzed or mentally impaired.

While all of the victims are still alive, one of them lost his feet to the disease.  Aaron Loy, a freshman lacrosse player at UCSB, lost circulation in his limbs because of the disease, and doctors were forced to amputate his lower legs. He remains hospitalized.  Both the California and New Jersey outbreaks have been linked to the same type of meningitis – type B.  However, due to genetic differences in the bacteria, health officials do not believe the two infections to be related.

While there is a vaccination for type B meningitis, it is not yet available for sale in the U.S.  In response, government health officials have agreed to import Bexsero, a vaccination against meningitis type B, reports NBC News.  Bexsero, which is manufactured by Novartis, was approved earlier this year for use in Europe and Australia.