DENVER –The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is working with officials at Metropolitan State College of Denver to investigate a student death. At this time there is no definitive diagnosis, but meningococcal disease is considered one possibility.

Bacterial cultures are pending and it will be at least into the weekend before results are available.

Metro is taking appropriate steps to notify its students and staff.

Even though lab results are not available, out of an abundance of caution, the case is being treated as a possible meningcoccal bacterial illness.

Public health officials have completed the usual contact investigation to make sure family members and close contacts of the deceased who might have been exposed to the student’s illness have received appropriate antibiotics. Merely being in class with the deceased does not put students at risk.

More information could be available early next week depending on lab results.