Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) will not be briefing students about the recent meningitis scare before the mid-semester break this weekend.

UPM chief medical officer Dr Yahaya Abu Ahmad said today the briefing will not take place due to time constraints.

"I still don't know how we are going to relay the information to them, but we will probably brief them when they return from the (one-week) break," he told malaysiakini .

He added that the university will not try to contact students at their homes.

Yahaya will be meeting the university vice-chancellor today to decide on the best way to relay the facts to the students representative council.

Yesterday, malaysiakini reported that the university was trying to slot in a briefing on the issue for more than 300 student leaders before they go off for the break.

Three undergraduates were admitted to Kajang Hospital last night after complaining of fever and headache, which are some of the symptoms of meningitis.

The meningitis scare began when two third-year students, Loy Cheah Kee and D Thiyagarajan, died within two days of each other in late June, after exhibiting symptoms of meningitis.

However, only Thiyagarajan was found to have died of meningitis.

Loy's body was released for burial before an autopsy could be conducted, but the official cause of death was acute pulmonary oedema.

'Difficult to spread'

Meningitis is an infectious disease that affects the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Immediate medical treatment is the most important measure to take if symptoms of meningitis such as headache, fever or a stiff neck are experienced after coming in contact with a patient.

Meningitis is spread by bacteria found in respiratory droplets in the air.

Those most susceptible to the disease are individuals who have had prolonged contact with patients, such as living or working together in a poorly ventilated environment, or exchanging respiratory secretions through kissing or coughing.

However, meningitis is not as contagious as other airborne diseases like the flu, because the bacteria responsible for the infection dies within minutes of leaving the human body.

Yahaya said the disease should not spread easily on university campuses.

"It is quite difficult for the disease to spread in lecture halls and university housing, as long as they are well-ventilated," he said.

So far, 11 UPM students have been warded and have been screened, but no new cases were detected.

All but one of the students were discharged from the Kajang Hospital today.

The decision to delay the briefing to the students representative council has in turn derailed the latter's plan to relay the information to the general populace in campus.

"Since the university and health centre decided to brief students when they return from the break, the council also has to wait for this," said council president Mohd Nasir Othman.

"It is of no effect if the awareness campaign is launched at the start of the break when students may not even come because they will be on holiday anyway," he said, adding that the decision was made after he met with health centre personnel yesterday.

He said all students living on or off-campus will not be around during the break.