Academy names midshipman who died from meningitis

It was Naval Academy Midshipman 4th Class Frederick Henry Eissler, 20, of West Chester, Pa., who died Monday from complications due to an infection of Nieserra meningitis, the Naval Academy reported Tuesday evening.

“The Naval Academy is deeply saddened by this tragic loss,” Vice Adm. Jeffrey L. Fowler, academy superintendent, said in a statement. “Our most heartfelt sympathies and condolences go out to the Eissler family. Our thoughts are with them during this very difficult time.”

Midshipman Eissler’s funeral will be at noon Friday at the Naval Academy, according to the news release.

Bacterial meningitis can be spread only through close, person-to-person contact. The academy’s medical staff has identified 63 midshipmen and staff who had been in close proximity to Midshipman Eissler, the news release states.

The 63, an increase from the 44 reported earlier Tuesday, are being given prophylactic antibiotics as a precaution. The antibiotics are very effective in stopping the illness.

Midshipman Eissler attended the Naval Academy Preparatory School for one academic year, from 2007-08, before he entered the Naval Academy on July 2, 2008, with the Class of 2012, the news release states. At the academy, he was a member of the 22nd Company, and participated in intramural sports.

He is survived by his parents, Fred and Helene, and four younger sisters, according to the news release.

Midshipman Eissler was feeling very ill during the evening hours of Nov. 12 at Bancroft Hall was transported to Baltimore Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie for treatment of possible meningitis. On Friday, he was transferred to the University of Maryland Medical Center Friday for further care.

He died shortly after 5 p.m. Monday at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

The Naval Academy administers a meningococcal vaccine to all newly reporting midshipmen, including Naval Academy Preparatory School midshipmen candidates, in accordance with a Department of Defense policy, the news release states. That policy requires the vaccine for all basic trainees and cadets at service academies within the first two weeks of training.

The vaccine covers nearly 70 percent of the possible agents that can cause meningitis, but does not protect against Niesseria meningitis, subtype B, the news release states. The antibiotics given for prophylaxis, however, do protect against this strain of bacteria.

“The Naval Academy continues to aggressively follow established medical protocols to ensure this remains the only case of this illness aboard the academy,” the news release states.