All college students know that dorms are breeding grounds for germs. (My first year alone, I headed to the campus infirmary 12 times.) Curable infections, like a cough here and a sore throat there, are common, but there's also a severe disease looming over college students' heads: meningococcal meningitis.

According to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), freshmen living in dorms are six times more likely to contract the disease than non-residential college students.

"These students are at risk due to the crowding of people in small spaces," explains Dr. Kenneth Bromberg, director of The Vaccine Study Center at the State University of New York Downstate. Commonly known as meningitis, the rare, but potentially fatal, bacterial infection can inflame the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It is contracted by direct oral contact with an infected person, such as sharing cigarettes, glasses/silverware, or kissing.

According to Bromberg, its symptoms are similar to the flu -- a high fever, headache, stiff neck, rash, nausea, and vomiting. Luckily, a vaccination is available to protect you for three to five years. "The vaccine is 80 percent effective and will cost $50-$70 -- less than a pair of sneakers," explains Bromberg. "It is truly worth the economic investment to stay safe."

For the simple reason that college should be a healthy and enjoyable time for all young adults, Bromberg deems the best preventive measures to be education and awareness.

For more on preventing meningococcal meningitis, surf the American College Health Association's Web site at www.acha.org.

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