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March 12, 2010

Two Oologah students die from meningitis

Krystal J. Carman Staff Writer

CLAREMORE — Two Oologah-Talala students have died after contracting meningitis.

Early Thursday, seven-year-old Andrew Gregory Thomas died from the disease and school officials announced late Thursday afternoon another child also passed. As of presstime, the child’s name had not been released.

Four other students at Oologah-Talala School have also contracted the disease and have been hospitalized.

A team from the Rogers County Health Department and the Oklahoma State Health Department, consisting of two doctors and at least nine nurses, brought antibiotics to the gymnasium Thursday to treat all elementary students and faculty.

Two students were transported to Owasso hospitals late Thursday afternoon after having an adverse reaction to the antibiotic, according to officials.

Classes have been cancelled at Oologah-Talala Schools for Friday.

According to Rogers County Health Department Director Mary Beth Murray, a 6-year-old remains in critical condition as of Friday morning. In addition, Andrew Thomas was not the first child to be admitted to the hospital on Wednesday night.

“This is very, very unusual,” Murray said of the outbreak. “The state health department had not seen anything like this happen before. Especially the rapid onset and the subsequent hospitalizations and death.”

Oologah-Talala Superintendent Rick Thomas said he was made aware at 9 a.m. Thursday morning that some of his students had contracted meningitis and one had died from the disease via a telephone call from the health department.

“Yesterday, the students sent home had signs of fever and flu-like symptoms,” Supt. Thomas said at a press conference on Thursday. “Their parents picked them up yesterday. We have no knowledge that any other kids are sick.

“I have never seen it, in my time here or in any school district,” Supt. Thomas said.

Inside the school’s gymnasium Thursday the doctors including, Dr. Sam Stauffer who is the only physician in Oologah for the past 29 years, are giving the antibiotic rocephin. Rocephin is an injectable antibiotic and is being given to “at risk” students and faculty at the Oologah-Talala Lower Elementary. The lower elementary serves students in grades pre-kindergarten to second grade.

“Even if a child doesn’t have the symptoms, they are being given the antibiotic as a preventive measure,” Stauffer said.

Oologah Dolton Funeral Home is handling arrangements for the Andrew Gregory Thomas family.

Local clinics and physicians have been overrun with parents worried that their children may have the disease. Thomas said most of those children have been sent back to the gymnasium to be assessed and treated.

In addition to treating the students and anyone affected or involved with the lower elementary, the health department is giving parents information sheets concerning meningitis, its symptoms and other pertinent information.

Meningitis is a potentially severe or fatal disease caused by bacteria, virus or fungi which inflames the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord.

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

If these symptoms are present, the health department advises contacting your primary care physician immediately to determine the cause of the disease in order to administer the correct treatment.

According to the state health department, viral meningitis is the most common form of the disease and it is spread from person-to-person through direct or indirect contact with fecal material. This comes via unclean hands or contaminated environmental items. There is no specific treatment for viral meningitis and most patients recover on their own with bed rest and plenty of fluids. A physician may, however, recommend medicine to relive symptoms such as fever and headache.

Bacterial meningitis can be caused by bacteria such as Streptococcus or Niesseria meningitis. This type of the disease is spread by direct contact with saliva or respiratory fluids from the nose and throat of an infected person. This is a more severe type of the disease and requires prompt treatment with antibiotics.

Meningococcal meningitis is a serious form of bacterial meningitis which also causes blood infections called meningococcal disease. Household members and other persons directly exposed to the respiratory fluids of a person with meningococcal meningitis are recommended to receive preventive antibiotics.

To prevent the spread of meningitis, hand washing is the most important action. The state health department advises washing soiled hands with soap and water after using the toilet, changing diapers, sneezing or coughing into your hands and before preparing and eating food. Also, use alcohol based hand gels when hands are not visibly soiled.

Facts concerning meningitis were provided by the Oklahoma State Department of Health

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