While, officials in New Rochelle claim there is not need to panic, yet, fifty Iona College community students are being monitored for signs of meningitis, after one of their classmates was admitted to a local hospital, in what is suspected to be a case of bacterial meningitis.

Dr. Joshua Lipsman, Westchester Health Commissioner describing the seriousness of the disease says: 'It is a very deadly disease. It has a 10 to 15% fatality rate and even people who survive can have serious effects, lost of limbs, neurological effects, hearing loss.'

Taking precautionary measures, the college is providing free treatment to all students who were potentially exposed to their hospitalized fellow student, who remains in critical condition at a Nassau County hospital.