Officials say he is in stable condition at Christiana Hospital and is responding well to treatment.
Student Health Services say they are working closely with the student's doctor and with the Delaware Division of Public Health.
The student lives off campus in a fraternity house, and members of the fraternity and all other close contacts have been advised to visit Student Health Services immediately to receive a prophylactic antibiotic.
Casual contact, such as sharing a classroom, is not considered close enough contact for the disease to spread.
Bacterial meningitis is a rare, but serious infection.
According to the Delaware Division of Public Health:
Early symptoms of bacterial meningitis include fever, rash, neck stiffness and severe sudden headache accompanied by mental changes, such as malaise or lethargy.
University of Delaware students who develop these symptoms should contact Student Health Services, which is open 24/7 whenever residence halls are open, at (302) 831-2226. Employees with such symptoms should contact their personal physicians or go to the emergency room.
