ORLANDO, Fla. -- A University of Central Florida student was hospitalized after being diagnosed with meningitis.

An e-mail was sent to some students at UCF's school of nursing over the weekend notifying that a student was admitted to a hospital because of the illness.

The e-mail said that a blood test showed the student had the meningitis organism in his system and that he was running a high fever and coughing up fluids.

"Yeah, it kind of does (make me nervous) because you don't know if you have been in a classroom with this person since it is contagious," student Meredith Situla said.

"We are very concerned about the health of our student who has become ill and we are pleased to know that he is doing better today," according to a statement released by the dean of the college of nursing, Dr. Jean Leuner. "We have contacted our students to inform them of this situation."

Bacterial meningitis symptoms are much like the flu and include high fever, and body aches. However, meningitis symptoms include discomfort looking into bright lights, confusion and extreme sleepiness.

If untreated, bacterial meningitis can be fatal.

Doctors urge anyone who lives or works in close contact with many people to get vaccinated.

Earlier this year, state legislators considered making the vaccine mandatory for college students.

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