Officials: Bacterial meningitis kills two Oklahoma students

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/03/11/oklahoma.meningitis.death/index.html?hpt=T2

Officials: Bacterial meningitis kills two Oklahoma students
March 11, 2010 1:36 p.m. EST

(CNN) -- Authorities are investigating six possible cases of bacterial meningitis -- including two deaths -- in rural Oklahoma elementary school students.

The Rogers County Health Department and Oklahoma State Department of Health said two children from Oologah-Talala public school district have died from the disease. One of them was an 8-year-old, said Superintendent Rick Thomas...

 

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Re: Officials: Bacterial meningitis kills two Oklahoma students

Infection outbreak kills 2 schoolchildren

At least one student is reported in critical condition at Children's Hospital at St. Francis. Four others are hospitalized

By KIM ARCHER & RHETT MORGAN World Staff Writers
Published: 3/12/2010 2:25 AM
Last Modified: 3/12/2010 3:37 AM

OOLOGAH ? Two elementary-age children died Thursday, and four other Oologah-Talala elementary school students were hospitalized because of an outbreak of a rare blood infection called meningococcemia, officials said Thursday.

Andrew Gregory Thomas, 7, and an unidentified 8-year-old girl died Thursday of the infection that, like meningitis, is a form of meningococcal disease. The state Health Department said it was investigating six children from the area who had become ill with symptoms.

Andrew, a second-grader, would have turned 8 years old March 24.
His grandmother, Marsha Thomas of Skiatook, said the boy was sent home from school Wednesday with flu symptoms.

"All of a sudden there was bruising," she said. The boy's mother took him to Bailey Medical Center in Owasso, where he was quickly transported to Children's Hospital at St. Francis.

"He was about as sweet a little kid as you can find. He loved Bakugans," Thomas said of the popular toys.

At least one other student is reported in critical condition at Children's Hospital at St. Francis.

Jeremiah Mitchell, 6, remained in pediatric intensive care Thursday, according to his grandfather, Rockie Mitchell.

"He's covered in a purple rash. He's a very, very sick little boy," he said. Mitchell said the kindergartner arrived home from school Wednesday with a fever. Later that night, he became "delusionary" and was taken to Claremore Indian Hospital.

He was then transported by LifeFlight to St. Francis, Mitchell said.

"This is an exceedingly rare infection," said Dr. Phil Barton, a physician treating the sick children at Children's Hospital at St. Francis. "It's not easy to contract."
...

Read more from this Tulsa World article at
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/arti...cleid=20100312_17_A1_TmyTre327553&archive=yes

 

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Re: Officials: Bacterial meningitis kills two Oklahoma students

Enlarge this picture
Andrew Gregory Thomas [photo courtesy Oologah Lake Leader]
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The Oologah-Talala Lower Elementary School holds classes for Pre-K through second grade students.

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Public health officials stress that the general public is not at risk.


Article at:
http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=12123558

 

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Re: Officials: Bacterial meningitis kills two Oklahoma students

4 students still hospitalized
Doctors give one boy a 25 percent chance of survival.

By KIM ARCHER World Staff Writer
Published: 3/13/2010 2:23 AM
Last Modified: 3/13/2010 4:23 AM

OOLOGAH ? A 6-year-old Talala boy remained in critical condition Friday after contracting meningococcal disease, his grandfather told the Tulsa World.

Doctors have given Jeremiah Mitchell a 25 percent chance of surviving his illness, said Rockie Mitchell.

"He's just unrecognizable," he said early Friday. "If he does make it, they'll probably have to take his arms and legs."

The boy is among six children from Oologah-Talala schools who fell ill with the disease this week.

Andrew Gregory Thomas, 7, and Shuache Moua, 8, died Thursday after contracting a rare blood infection called meningococcemia.

It was the day class pictures were scheduled at Oologah-Talala's Lower Elementary School.

Four others, including Jeremiah, remain hospitalized with the illness at Children's Hospital at St. Francis.

Andrew Thomas, a second-grader at Oologah-Talala Lower Elementary, was a sweet boy who "loved anyone and everyone," said his 14-year-old sister, Brekke.

"He always stuck close to Mama and was also very shy. But once he got to know you, he would always want to be around," she said.

Brekke said her parents are heartbroken, along with the entire family and all of Andrew's friends.

"He was such a sweet kid. It's going to be hard living without him. No more waking up to see him sleeping in his bed across the room and dragging him out of bed," she said.

"I'm going to miss my little baby brother very, very much," Brekke said.
...

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/arti...cleid=20100313_17_A1_OOLOGA503306&archive=yes

 

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Re: Officials: Bacterial meningitis kills two Oklahoma students

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=17&articleid=20100313_298_0_Anewtr763206


Hospitalized 6-year-old 'improving by inches'

Jeremiah Mitchell, 6, remains in critical condition Saturday at the Children's Hospital at St. Francis after contracting meningococcal disease.
By SARA PLUMMER World Staff Writer
Published: 3/13/2010 12:03 PM
Last Modified: 3/13/2010 3:04 PM

A new treatment is being given to a 6-year-old Talala boy who is in critical condition after contracting meningococcal disease, his grandfather said Saturday.

Jeremiah Mitchell is one of six children from Oologah-Talala schools who contracted the rare blood infection this week.

[snip]

Now doctors have given Jeremiah a new treatment and found a pulse in one of his knees, Mitchell said.

“He’s improving by inches,” he said. “We have a lot of people praying for us.”

[snip]

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=17&articleid=20100313_298_0_Anewtr763206

 

[alert]

Re: Officials: Bacterial meningitis kills two Oklahoma students

http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=12123558

[snip]

State and local public health officials are investigating and say laboratory testing has confirmed two cases of meningococcal disease

[snip]

According to the state medical examiner's office, the 8-year-old girl who died Thursday is Shuache Moua. She was a second grader in the Oologah-Talala Lower Elementary School.

The Oologah newspaper, the Oologah Lake Leader, says on its web site that the father of the boy told the paper the Andrew was sent home from school Wednesday afternoon with apparent flu symptoms and the family took him to an Owasso hospital later Wednesday evening.

Four other students in the lower elementary school (grades pre-k through second) have become ill with symptoms. Those four students remain in the hospital.

The students began showing symptoms between March 7 and March 10.

 

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Re: Officials: Bacterial meningitis kills two Oklahoma students

8-year-old is 2nd Victim Of Meningitis
posted 03/13/10 2:34 pm producer: Dan Phillips

Photo Courtesy The Oologah Lake Leader
Oologah - The name of a second meningitis victim has been released.
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Shuache Moua, 8, was one of the six children exposed to the bacteria. Symptoms began to show up in Oohlaga's Lower Elementary School Thursday.
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Moua's death comes after 7-year-old Andrew Thomas passed away Thursday.

Full article at:
http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0310/715791.html?ref=715791

 

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Re: Officials: Bacterial meningitis kills two Oklahoma students

Status of boy with meningitis improves

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Last Update: 3/13 4:25 pm

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The grandmother of Jeremiah Mitchell told 2NEWS her grandson's condition has improved.

Jeremiah and three other Oologah students were hospitalized after a meningitis outbreak this week.

School officials notified parents Thursday about the outbreak at the Oologah-Talala Elementary School.

Since then, more than 700 students and teachers have been vaccinated at the school's gymnasium.

Entire article at:
http://www.kjrh.com/mostpopular/sto...ningitis-improves/e7GqFucFzUW_0OpJMmUrjg.cspx


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[Shiloh]

Re: Officials: Bacterial meningitis kills two Oklahoma students

Source: http://www.newsok.com/seventh-case-...e-confirmed-at-oologah-talala/article/3446729

Seventh case of meningococcal disease confirmed at Oologah-Talala
BY THE TULSA WORLD - Tulsa World | Oklahoman C
Published: March 15, 2010

OOLOGAH ? Another Oologah-Talala student has contracted meningococcal disease, raising the number of cases in the school system to seven.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health announced that the patient is a teenage girl, but they did not release her name or condition.

Officials confirmed that she is in high school and is the first Oologah-Talala student outside of the elementary school to be infected...

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Officials: Bacterial meningitis kills two Oklahoma students

New case of disease confirmed at Oologah

TWO WHO DIED
Andrew Gregory Thomas, 7, (left) and Shuache Moua, 8: Both students died last week of meningococcal disease.
By KIM ARCHER & JARREL WADE World Staff Writers
Published: 3/16/2010 2:23 AM
Last Modified: 3/16/2010 4:11 AM


OOLOGAH ? Another Oologah-Talala student has contracted meningococcal disease, raising the number of cases in the school system to seven.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health confirmed Monday evening that a teenage girl has the disease. Her family said she is 18-year-old Karisa Dene Pales, a senior at Oologah-Talala High School. Officials noted that she is the first Oologah-Talala student outside of the elementary school to be infected

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=17&articleid=20100316_17_A1_OLGHds832669

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Officials: Bacterial meningitis kills two Oklahoma students

Source: http://www.kjrh.com/mostpopular/sto...ed-for-Meningitis/QyFaTXT0REiPyCTIULuPFg.cspx


1-year-old being tested for Meningitis

Last Update: 6:47 am
A Rogers County ambulance service was dispatched to Claremore Regional Hospital about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to transfer a 1-year-old boy to The Children's Hospital at St. Francis in Tulsa for tests to confirm or rule out meningitis.

Meantime, officials from the Rogers County Health Department and Oklahoma State Department of Health confirmed that a female teenaged student from the Oologah-Talala public school has developed meningococcal disease. This increases to seven the number of cases state and local public health officials are now investigating of those who have become ill with meningococcal disease symptoms in the last week. Two children have died from the disease...

 

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Re: Officials: Bacterial meningitis kills two Oklahoma students

Meningitis Vaccination Clinic To Be Held At Oologah Lower Elementary School

Posted:<SCRIPT type=text/javascript> wnRenderDate('Tuesday, March 16, 2010 4:18 PM EST', '', true);</SCRIPT> Mar 16, 2010 3:18 PM CDT
By Ashli Sims and NewsOn6.com

OOLOGAH, OK -- The Rogers County Health Department is holding a meningitis vaccination clinic at Oologah Lower Elementary School.

The clinic is for Oologah residents only.

The vaccine is recommended for those who are 11-years-old to 55-years-old. However, since Oologah elementary students are at high risk for exposure, they will offer the vaccine for children as young as 2-years-old.

The health department says the vaccine will not be available to those older than 55 because it hasn't been tested for patients in that age group.

The clinic is scheduled in response to last week's meningitis outbreak involving seven students from the Oologah-Talala School District. Two of those students died in the outbreak.

The vaccine is free and health officials say even if you have recently received antibiotics for meningitis, you can still get the vaccine.

The clinic will be held Friday from noon to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
...

Full article at:
http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=12151012

 

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Re: Officials: Bacterial meningitis kills two Oklahoma students

Meningitis Victim's Family Speaks Out

Shuache Moua, 9, Died From Bacterial Meningitis

POSTED: 9:39 pm CDT March 16, 2010
UPDATED: 11:04 am CDT March 17, 2010

Excerpts:

"Shuache Moua is one of two children to die from bacterial meningitis so far. Her parents said she felt sick one night after school. The next morning, she woke up with blue spots all over her. They took her to the emergency room, and she died a few hours later."

"Shuache's funeral is set for March 20. The Moua family said it needs help paying for their daughter's service.

Donations can be made at any Bank of Oklahoma location. "

Entire article at:
http://www.koco.com/news/22860967/detail.html

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Officials: Bacterial meningitis kills two Oklahoma students

Source: http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=12160537

Experts Hopeful That Spread Of Deadly Meningitis Outbreak Is Contained
Posted: Mar 17, 2010 7:57 PM EST Updated: Mar 17, 2010 10:02 PM EST
Featured Video

By Ashli Sims, The News On 6

UNDATED -- State health officials believe they have the measures in place to stop the spread of the disease in the deadly meningitis outbreak gripping Rogers County.

But fear still runs rampant as several children remain in the hospital.

Though no one is saying the danger is definitely over, health officials have given more than 1,000 doses of antibiotics to kill the bacteria that cause meningitis. And starting Friday, they're going to start vaccinating Oologah-Talala students and faculty to provide even more protection.

The vaccine they're using is only about five years old, and even the CDC says it won't protect everyone.

The vaccine is called Menactra, and the CDC says it's about 90 percent effective. Saint Francis' epidemiologist says Menactra kills off some of the most common types, including the one they believe is circulating now.

"If the health department tells you that you need to have a vaccine then you need to get the vaccine," said Dr. Mark Rowland, St. Francis epidemiologist.

But this vaccine does have shelf life, so children younger than 11-years-old may need a second vaccination before they go off to college...

...Vaccination Clinic Information:

To protect persons from future exposures to the disease, two special vaccination clinics are scheduled for this Friday, March 19, from noon to 7 p.m., and Saturday, March 20, from 9 a.m. till 2 p.m. at the Oologah-Talala Lower Elementary School. These clinics are designated only for students pre-K through seniors attending Oologah-Talala public schools, as well as district faculty and employees.

There will be no charge for the vaccine. Children who previously received antibiotics for disease prevention in the past week are still recommended to get the vaccine...

 

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Re: Officials: Bacterial meningitis kills two Oklahoma students

Patients Flood Hospitals Amid Meningitis Outbreak

Reported by: Rebecca Smith
Email: rsmith@fox23.com
Last Update: 8:31 am

Oologah, OK- Area hospitals are seeing more patients because of the bacterial meningitis outbreak in Oologah.

Mary Beth Murray, an administrator with the Rogers County Health Department, says they've gotten "hundreds of phone calls" from people wanting to know about the illness and whether or not they need to get vaccinated.

Parents with children sick with bacterial meningitis know the savage nature of this illness and how quickly it can spread through the body.
It's that fear, or maybe heightened awareness, that's leading to more hospital visits.

Hospitals in and around Rogers County have seen an increase in the number of patients coming in for treatment of meningitis-like symptoms, including Claremore Regional Hospital and St. John Owasso, which has seen a moderate spike in the number of patients coming to the emergency room, worried symptoms could be a sign of something worse.

It could be hard to distinguish between meningitis and the flu, according to the Rogers County Health Department, which says stiff neck and rash would be the two most consistent with bacterial meningitis.

Other symptoms include fever, nausea, and intense headache.
...

Full article at:
http://www.fox23.com/news/local/sto...ningitis-Outbreak/epeBUxQCOEehZh9lBH0QAw.cspx

 

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Re: Officials: Bacterial meningitis kills two Oklahoma students

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=17&articleid=20100318_17_0_Sixyea432354


6-year-old continues battle with meningococcal disease

Six-year-old Jeremiah Mitchell
By KIM ARCHER World Staff Writer
Published: 3/18/2010 11:14 AM
Last Modified: 3/18/2010 2:38 PM

Six-year-old Jeremiah Mitchell, who is battling meningococcal disease, remains in critical condition Thursday at Children's Hospital at St. Francis.

"He's still ticking," said his grandfather, Rockie Mitchell of Talala. "We take one step forward and two steps back."

Mitchell said Wednesday that the kindergartner had taken a turn for the worst. But today, he may be a little bit better, he said.

Jeremiah is among seven Oologah-Talala Public School children who contracted meningococcal disease last week.

Andrew Thomas, 7, and Shuache Moua, 8, died last Thursday from the disease. Skyler Whisenhunt, 8, was released from the hospital Wednesday.

Other than Jeremiah Mitchell, three other children remain hospitalized. Eighteen-year-old Karisa Dene Pales is improving and could leave the hospital Friday, her family said Wednesday.

...................

This article below confirms that it is type C bacteria involved.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/arti...articleid=20100318_17_A1_Oologa94590&allcom=1

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Officials: Bacterial meningitis kills two Oklahoma students

Source: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=17&articleid=20100323_11_A14_Onesus489296

Another case reported; no tie to outbreak seen
It is under investigation, state health officials say.

By KIM ARCHER World Staff Writer
Published: 3/23/2010 6:41 AM
Last Modified: 3/23/2010 6:41 AM

One suspected case of meningococcal disease in northeastern Oklahoma is under investigation by the Oklahoma State Department of Health, state epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley confirmed Monday.

Investigators have determined that there is no link between the case and the Oologah-Talala Public Schools outbreak.

The agency also received a ?handful? of reports regarding other suspected cases in the region. Most have been discounted, she said.

Bradley could not reveal the location or age of the individual because of medical privacy laws.

?Of the cases under investigation, none have shown any possible link with the Oologah school outbreak,? she said.

Two young Oologah-Talala students died March 11 from the disease, and five others were hospitalized with the illness.

Only one child, Jeremiah Mitchell, 6, remains at the Children?s Hospital at St. Francis in Tulsa. He?s in critical condition.

Aside from the Oologah- Talala cases, seven other cases of the disease have been reported in Oklahoma since Jan. 1, Bradley said...

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=17&articleid=20100323_11_A14_Onesus489296

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Officials: Bacterial meningitis kills two Oklahoma students

Source: http://www.kjrh.com/content/news/st...-top-state-health/nSE1OiEDFUydpzxbT_w3DQ.cspx


After meningitis outbreak, top state health officials weigh in
Reported by: Marla Carter
Email: mcarter@kjrh.com
Last Update: 12:32 pm

In March, two students died and four others were hospitalized as a result of a meningitis outbreak in the Oolagah-Talala School District.

It left lots of questions and concerns.

Officials from the Oklahoma State Department of Health wanted to clear up confusion about proper mitigation and prevention.

So they made a visit to the Tulsa County Health Department on Monday for a round table discussion...

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Officials: Bacterial meningitis kills two Oklahoma students

Source: http://www.newsok.com/oklahoma-outb...re-state-health-official-says/article/3462081

Oklahoma outbreak of meningococcal disease was rare, state health official says

TULSA ? The Oologah-Talala meningococcemia disease outbreak was so rare and unusual that state health officials don?t expect to see anything similar for many decades, State Epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley said.

BY KIM ARCHER - Tulsa World Oklahoman
Published: May 18, 2010

TULSA ? The Oologah-Talala meningococcemia disease outbreak was so rare and unusual that state health officials don?t expect to see anything similar for many decades, State Epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley said.
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"The epidemic potential is small. This is not a highly contagious bacteria,? she said. Only 1 percent of those exposed to the bacteria ever get sick.


Read more: http://www.newsok.com/oklahoma-outb...h-official-says/article/3462081#ixzz0oIGU83No