ATHENS, Ga. — The University of Georgia confirmed to Channel 2 Action News that a student died from encephalitis Monday morning at an Athens hospital.
The school and friends identified the student as Tanzila Alam, 18.
Alam, a freshman biology major, moved to America from Bangladesh two years ago.
Her roommate told Channel 2's Tyisha Fernandes Alam initially became sick Tuesday night. Her first symptom was a fever, then a stomach ache, followed by bad headaches later in the week.
Her uncle took her to the emergency room at Athens Regional Medical Center on Thursday.
Her roommate told Fernandes that Alam had several seizures while in the ER and became unresponsive. She was placed in ICU on life support. Her roommate said doctors gave her a 10 percent chance of survival. Alam died around 7:30 a.m. Monday.
Her roommate said that doctors told them Alam had meningitis, but it would take a few more days of tests to determine which kind.
A school official said the cause of death was encephalitis, not meningitis, and there is no reason for the public to be concerned.
Fernandes also spoke with a close friend of Alam who said doctors at Athens Regional Medical Center told her Alam had bacterial meningitis. She said the doctors told her that on three different occasions over the weekend. That friend is now taking preventative measures, because she was in close contact with Alam.
We're working to learn more about the illness and will bring you updates on the Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat at 11.
WSBTV
