CNHI
CLAREMORE — Officials from the Rogers County Health Department and Oklahoma State Department of Health have confirmed that a female teenage student from the Oologah-Talala Public Schools 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 elementary aged children have died from the disease and four other elementary students were confirmed to have contracted the disease.
As a preventive measure, the Rogers County Health Department, 2664 North Highway 88 in Claremore, will host a special clinic Tuesday to provide antibiotics for family members and close contacts of the latest case. State health officials are now contacting those who should attend today’s clinic.
A separate clinic was held at the Oologah-Talala Lower Elementary School gymnasium on Thursday and Friday to provide antibiotics to students, faculty and others who were close contacts of the six elementary students who were diagnosed with meningitis.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health provided two doctors and multiple nurses for that clinic who provided 846 doses of the antibiotic.
Public health officials stress that the general public is not at risk. Only persons who have had close, personal contact to a person with a meningococcal infection have a slightly increased risk of developing the disease.
Symptoms of meningococcal disease may appear two to ten days after infection. People ill with meningococcal septicemia may have fever, nausea, vomiting, and a rash.
People that are ill with meningitis will have fever, intense headache, nausea, vomiting, and a stiff neck. It is important to seek care from a physician as soon as possible if these symptoms appear.
