Meningitis Survivor Recounts Illness In Wake Of Northeastern Student's Death

BOSTON (CBS) -- While friends and family are coming to terms with the sudden death of Ryan Shaw -- the Northeastern University Student who died a week ago from bacterial meningitis -- one man continues to advocate for meningitis awareness and protection on college campuses.

Andy Marso was a senior at University of Kansas when he contracted meningitis B in April 2004.

"One night I started to feel sick, thought I had the flu, by the next morning I couldn't get out of bed, by the next evening I was being airlifted to Kansas because my organs were failing and I was dying," Marso told WBZ NewsRadio 1030.

Marso slipped into a coma and spent three months in a burn unit. The meningitis bacteria had cut off circulation to his extremities. Doctors had to amputate all of his fingers and toes, but were able to save one thumb.

Marso, who wrote a book about his diagnosis and recovery called "Worth the Pain," says it's critical that colleges get the word out about prevention.

"Very few, none that I know of in fact, require their students to be vaccinated with the new meningitis type B vaccine, and that's the type of meningitis I had," Marso said. "So it's a big push for me to get these campuses aware that, hey, that missing piece that we didn't have before, that protection against meningitis B, we have that now."

Marso is helping to get the word out by helping with fraternity Phi Beta Sigma. William Watkins, Director of Social Action for the Massachusetts chapter of the fraternity, says besides vaccines, students should avoid sharing drinks or food with others since the illness can be contracted by sharing a spoon, a fork, a drink, a cigarette, or even a kiss.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Laurie Kirby reports