Claremore Daily Progress

Education

March 11, 2010

Oologah cancels Friday classes and activities

From Staff Reports Staff Reporter

OOLOGAH — Oologah-Talala school officials have cancelled classes and school activities scheduled for Friday, March 12 following the deaths of two elementary school students from bacterial meningitis.

"Officials from the Rogers County Health Department and Oklahoma State Department of Health are investigating potential cases of meningococcal disease in the Oologah-Talala elementary public school," according to a statement released on the school's Web site.

"Four children have become ill with symptoms and one child has died. Laboratory testing has confirmed at least one case of meningococcal disease and tests are pending on the other three. As a preventive measure, local and state health department personnel are on site working with school officials today to offer antibiotics to Lower Elementary School children and close contacts with cases," according to the statement.

It was released prior to the death of the second student. Both students, a 7-year old and 8 year-old attended Lower Elementary School.

"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.."

Sixteen cases of meningococcal disease were reported in Oklahoma during 2009 with one death. Thus far in 2010, five cases were reported with one death -  these cases are not connected to current investigation.)

Symptoms may appear two to 10 days after infection, but usually appear within three to four days. 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.

Anyone with symptoms should seek care from a physician as soon as possible.

For more information on meningococcal disease, visit the Oklahoma State Department of Health Web site at www.health.ok.gov.

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