A Philadelphia college student died from the same strain of meningitis seen in an outbreak at Princeton University , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday . The Drexel University student died March 10 from meningitis B , or `` serogroup B meningococcal disease , '' the CDC said in a statement . Lab analysis showed the disease matched the strain seen at Princeton through `` genetic fingerprinting , '' health officials said . `` The public health investigation of the Drexel University student revealed that the student had been in close contact with students from Princeton University about a week before becoming ill , '' the CDC said . The death raises concern the outbreak strain may still be present in the Princeton community , health officials said . Starting in December , a `` high percentage '' of Princeton undergraduates and eligible graduate students received an unlicensed meningitis vaccination called Bexsero . While the vaccine is approved for use in Europe , Canada and Australia , it is not yet approved for use in the United States . The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration granted approval for the vaccine to be distributed at Princeton . Last month , Bexsero was also distributed to students at the University of California , Santa Barbara , which had an outbreak involving four cases of of meningococcal disease unrelated to the Princeton outbreak . Meningococcal disease can cause meningitis or blood infections . Nine cases of group B meningitis have been associated with the Princeton outbreak , Princeton University said on its web site Tuesday . Eight cases were previously reported ; the new number includes the Drexel case , said Princeton spokesman Martin Mbugua . The CDC noted no new cases have been seen at Princeton since the vaccinations began on December 9 . `` Available data show most adolescents that get two doses of this vaccine are protected from getting meningococcal disease , '' the CDC said . `` However , vaccinated individuals may still be able to carry the bacteria in their throats , which could infect others through close contact . '' No related cases have been reported at Drexel , the CDC said . Health officials were investigating whom the student may have been in contact with and providing antibiotics . A statement on the Princeton website Tuesday urged members of the university community to `` continue to be vigilant in following good health practices to prevent the spread of this illness . '' Meningitis is caused by inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and the spinal cord , known as the meninges . Infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord usually causes this inflammation , according to the CDC . College students are especially vulnerable , and dorms are the perfect breeding grounds for an outbreak , health officials say . Meningitis B spreads through coughing , sneezing , and kissing . It can also spread when people forget to wash their hands or clothes , or among people who drink out of the same cup . Meningitis B is tricky , since students who catch it may first think they have the flu . It starts with flulike symptoms : fever , headache , stiff necks , vomiting and delirium . If the bacteria spread to the meninges , patients can suffer hearing loss , permanent neurological damage and even death . In 2012 , there were 480 cases of bacterial meningitis in the United States , according to the CDC . Of those , 160 were group B .
A Drexel University student died March 10 from group B meningitis . The student had been in contact with Princeton students . The death raises concerns the outbreak may still be present at Princeton .