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Health officials believe a Whitko Middle School student has contracted aseptic (viral) meningitis.
Dr. William Remington, Kosciusko County health officer, stressed, "This is not meningococcal meningitis - that is the horrorific, you're dead meningitis. This is not that."
He said he understood that the WMS student was admitted to the hospital and is the only known case at the school.
"I feel confident they don't have anything unusual there," he said.
Jennifer Dunlap, spokeswoman for the Indiana State Department of Health, said the investigation into the case is ongoing. It has not yet been determined whether it's viral or bacterial meningitis. She said there is no indication as to when that determination would be made.
Dr. Jeff Hendrix, Whitko Community School Corp. superintendent, said as far as he knew, the student still is hospitalized. The student apparently came down with the disease sometime over Labor Day weekend, but Hendrix said it was not confirmed to him until Tuesday.
"We have sent a letter home to every parent yesterday evening," said Hendrix. The letter explains the situation as to what the school corporation knew at that time as well as the signs and symptoms of the disease.
Aseptic meningitis is not that uncommon and usually occurs in late summer and early fall. It is an infection caused by a virus that can cause an infection of the covering of the brain and spinal cord. People usually recover fully. Viral meningitis is more common in children than adults.
Viral meningitis is "relatively common at this time of year," said Remington.
As it is caused by different viruses, it can be spread in different ways, including: an infected person coughing or sneezing in someone's face, an infected person not washing their hands after using the toilet and then preparing food for others, and sharing eating utensils with an infected person.
Signs and symptoms of viral meningitis include fever, headache, stiff neck, red rash, drowsiness, nausea and vomiting.
Dunlap said bacterial meningitis is more likely spread through saliva - sharing utensils, kissing, etc. Whether it's bacterial or viral meningitis, she said, "Good handwashing is always a good idea."
In cases of bacterial meningitis, Dunlap said, it "can be serious" for the student.
Bob Teclaw, state epidemiologist for the ISDH, said both bacterial and viral meningitis cause inflammation of the lining of the brain. The most common bacterial meningitis is "primarily transmitted through saliva" as well as carried through the nose.
"Maybe 5 percent of us are carrying it at any one time," he said. It's a sporadic disease so usually there's one case and that's the end of it.
At college campuses or in the military, with so many people from different areas together, sometimes an epidemic can break out, Teclaw said.
Viral meningitis is carried by different viruses and is transmitted orally or fecally. It also is commonly sporadic in its transmission.
Teclaw said they "usually don't see epidemics in schools" of meningitis. If WMS had more than one case in a short amount of time, "that would raise red flags."
Asked how concerned parents should be about their child also becoming infected, Remington said, "Who wouldn't be concerned about hearing about meningitis?" However, aseptic meningitis rarely is a fatal disease, though since it is a virus, there is no specific treatment for it and no antibiotics for the disease.
If a child has a fever or other symptom, a parent should carefully observe their son or daughter. If it gets worse or there are more symptoms, call their health care provider or take the child to the emergency room.
Remington said he would have no fear in sending a student to school. "I would not close the school over this."
Hendrix said the school corporation is re-emphasizing good hygiene in the matter - wash one's hands, don't share utensils, etc. He said they will continue to monitor the situation.
Last year, a Manchester High School student also had viral meningitis and another died from meningococcal disease.
For more information about viral meningitis, visit online at www.in.gov/isdh/healthinfo/viral%20meningitis.htm
