Published: October 16, 2008 11:34 pm         

EPS student is diagnosed with bacterial meningitis

A student at McKinley Elementary School was diagnosed Tuesday with bacterial meningitis, a potentially fatal disease. Enid Public Schools officials sent a note home with students Wednesday notifying parents of the case.

All Oklahoma students were out of school Thursday and today for fall break and teacher professional days.

Laurence Burnsed, Director of the Communicable Disease Department of the Oklahoma State Health Department, said the one student at McKinley was the only case reported.

“An individual was reported to the Garfield County Health Department with bacterial meningitis,” said Burnsed, “Others at the school are not at risk. There are no other close contacts that have symptoms.”

According to the Oklahoma State Health Department Web site, meningitis is a potentially severe or fatal disease caused by a bacteria, virus or fungi causing inflammation of the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord.

Garfield County Health Department has contacted the families of children and employees who have had direct contact with the student and those who are in the child’s class.

Symptoms of meningitis may include fever, rash, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. Symptoms in infants may include irritability, lethargy, extreme fussiness or refusal to eat.

Meningitis is caused by bacteria such as Streptococcus species or Neisseria meningitis.

“Many healthy people can carry this without any signs or symptoms,” said Burnsed. The bacteria is transferred by direct contact with secretions from the nose or throat.”

Garfield County Health Department has worked to find people who may have been in contact with the student.

“The Health Department has tried to work quickly to find anyone who might have had close contact with the individual,” said Burnsed.

The public is not at risk to contract bacterial meningitis from this case, according to Burnsed.

“It is not easily transmitted. The general public and, in this case, the general student body is not at risk,” said Burnsed.

Bacterial meningitis is treatable with medication.

“When a case is identified, they work quickly to establish those who had close contact with the individual and administer preventive antibiotics,” said Burnsed.

Oklahoma State Health De-partment recommends hand washing to prevent the spread of any infection.

The Web site recommends, washing visibly soiled hands with soap and water, after using the toilet, after changing diapers, after sneezing or coughing into your hands and before preparing and eating food. Use alcohol-based hand gels when hands are not visibly soiled.

School officials said they cannot provide any more information than is given in the letter sent home with students.

All calls in regards to the bacterial meningitis case at McKinley were directed to the Oklahoma State Health Department, (800) 522-0203.