Michigan authorities seek partygoers exposed to meningitis

LANSING, Michigan (CNN) -- State health authorities are enlisting the help of universities, doctors, local health departments and local media to track down as many as 1,000 people who may have been exposed to meningitis during a "rave" party last weekend.

Health officials are concerned that the disease could have been passed among the partygoers when many of them shared a pacifier that had been dipped in the drug Ecstasy.

Users of the drug "want to clench and grind their teeth, so they will often use a pacifier to chew on," explained Geralyn Lasher, with the Department of Community Health. She says a young woman who went to the party and is recovering from meningococcal meningitis had close contact with others.

Health officials have been unable to identify all of the people who attended the gathering. The department's chief, Dr. David Johnson, said it's vital that all those who were there be treated with antibiotics to prevent meningitis.

"Many of those in attendance may not have told their parents about the party," he added.

Officials put a notice about the meningitis exposure on the department's Web site, as well as on the site that promoted the party, which was held sometime between Aug. 18-20 in western Michigan, near Hoags Lake in Mason County.

Ecstasy can cause depression, anxiety and paranoia, according to state health officials. It also may increase the heart rate and raise the body's blood pressure and temperature. The health department statement said some studies have shown that Ecstasy can cause long-term brain damage and memory impairment, even after a single dose.

Meningitis is an infection of the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Unlike viral meningitis, bacterial meningitis is often fatal, but can be treated with antibiotics if caught early. Health officials have also used vaccines to control outbreaks.

The most common symptoms of meningitis include high fever, headache, a stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, confusion, sleepiness and sometimes a rash. Victims occasionally report discomfort when looking into bright lights.

The infection can be spread through bodily fluids, such as when people kiss or drink from the same glass. It can kill within hours, but is often ignored at first because the symptoms are similar to the flu.

CNN Medical Correspondent Rhonda Rowland contributed to this report.

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