Officials at the state Department of Health and Human Services identified bacterial meningitis as the cause of a UNH student’s death. Danielle Thompson, a sophomore from Bangor, Maine, died Wednesday, Jan. 3 at Wentworth-Douglas Hospital while the university was on winter break. She was 21 years old.

As the disease spreads through shared saliva, close confines and poor hygiene, the illness often poses a unique danger to college dormitories, where it can spur multiple infections.

“We don’t believe that there is any danger to the public at large.” DHHS Commissioner John Stephen said in a statement.

UNH and DHHS have identified nearly 100 people who may have come in contact with the victim and provided them with information about prevention and an antibiotic regimen.

“We are hopeful that we have found all of those who might have come into close contact with this young woman and given them the appropriate treatment to protect them.” Stephen added.