Re: New Jersey: Aberdeen boy, 17, dies from meningitis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 22, 2011
Update January 24, 2011 - The Monmouth County Health Department will hold a community forum at 8 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 24 at the Matawan Regional High School, 450 Atlantic Ave., Aberdeen. The purpose of the forum is to provide information and answer questions related to bacterial meningitis.
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County investigating suspected meningitis death
Health Department is reaching out to contacts of local teen
FREEHOLD, NJ ? A 17-year-old male at Matawan Regional High School died early this morning of suspected bacterial meningitis.
?Monmouth County Health Department staff are working closing with the young man?s family members and school officials to identify close contacts of the student who may have been exposed to the disease,? the county?s Public Health Coordinator Michael Meddis said. ?We express our deepest condolences to the family and we are working quickly to address the needs of the community.?
A telephone bank has been opened to answer questions from other concerned community members. The phone number is 732-431-7456.
?Currently, the diagnosis is probable bacterial meningitis,? Meddis said.
?Meningitis bacteria are spread from person to person through saliva or other respiratory secretions. You must be in close contact with a sick person?s secretions for the bacteria to spread.?
Close contact includes activities such as:
? utensils or food;
? sharing drinks;living in the same household;
? kissing;
? sharing eating
? sharing cigarettes;
? uncovered, face-to-face sneezing or coughing.
The bacteria are not spread by casual contact activities such as being in the same workspace or schoolroom as the sick person or by handling books or other items that the sick person has touched. Likewise, being around a person who was in contact with the sick person does not put you at risk for catching meningococcal disease.
Meningitis is an infection of the fluid surrounding a person?s spinal cord and brain that can be caused by bacterial, viral or fungal infection. The bacteria can spread to the blood and cause additional complications.
The early symptoms of meningococcal disease include fever, headache, body aches, feeling very tired or sleepy. Other symptoms that may occur are stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and sensitivity to light.
Later in the illness, a rash appearing as purple blotches or spots on the arms, legs or torso may be seen. Early diagnosis and treatment are very important.
Anyone who presents such symptoms should contact their health care professional immediately.
More information about meningitis is available from the Monmouth County Health Department at
732-431-7456 and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at
http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/index.html.
http://co.monmouth.nj.us/PressDetail.aspx?ID=751
