Princeton University recently started administering a meningitis vaccine, with special permission, that is not FDA-approved; now UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) wants the same permission.

According to CNN, California health officials are considering asking the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for the same type of permission to use the non-approved drug. UCSB has had four reported meningitis type B cases and one has resulted in a student needing both feet amputated.

Two other of those infected have recovered and one is expected to soon, but the disease is highly contagious and could affect anyone who had personal contact with the infected. If approved to use the drug, as many as 700 people on UCSB's campus would be eligible for vaccination.

According to the Times of Trenton, 1,006 vaccinations were issued on Princeton's third day of administering the drug. The total is now 4,361 vaccinations, accounting for 90 percent of those eligible.

"It's the bacterial meningitis branch that packs the most powerful punch. Its bacterial swarm can cause brain damage, hearing loss, or learning disabilities," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states on their website.

The new drug requires special permission from the FDA because the strain of meningitis is not like the one currently treatable by the current vaccine. The CDC recommends anyone be vaccinated against meningitis, but there is not an approved drug for this new strain that has hit Princeton and UCSB.

"I'm very concerned and upset about CDC's response," Jeff Klonoff told ABC News. "In UCSB, there has been four [infections] in the last month. If there's an explanation for why they're treating them differently, they haven't conveyed that."

Thomas Clark, the CDC's head of meningitis branch, said his office is considering UCSB's case and would have to determine if their strain is right for the drug used at Princeton.

"All the data so far suggests that [the imported vaccine] would work against this strain, but then we [need to] test this actual bacteria that caused the cases," said Clark.

Dr. William Schaffner, professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt Medical Center, said meningitis outbreaks on school campuses can happen quickly because the disease is transferred by interpersonal contact.

"Initially, it's a very deceptive infection. You feel flu-ey. You get tired and weak. The disease can progress very quickly," he said. "You can get more fever and a stiff neck, and you may get a rash and may become confused and unaware. It can move very quickly and it is a frightening infection."

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