WALTHAM, Mass. -- Bentley College says a first-year student has died of bacterial meningitis at a hospital in her home state of New York.

College officials said Erin Ortiz, 18, died on Monday morning at Westchester Medical Center. The student athlete was visiting her family in New Hampton, N.Y., when she was taken to the hospital.

NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that Bentley released a statement saying, "We have deep concern also for the health and safety of those close to Erin and (for) our entire community."

Bentley said its health services were notified of Ortiz's illness on Sunday by the Massachusetts Department of Health.

The college has been notifying students who had close contact with her and providing precautionary antibiotics to them.

Students are being encouraged to seek health care if they have symptoms of the disease, which is transmitted by contact with saliva.

According to the state health department, bacterial meningitis is spread through saliva, often through sharing food and drinks or kissing, and symptoms include fever, severe and constant headache, stiff neck or neck pain, nausea and vomiting, and a rash.

It can be successfully treated with antibiotics if it's caught in time.

In Massachusetts, 21 cases were reported to the state last year.