Case of meningitis reported in Brushy school system

Brushy Public Schools has been working with the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) regarding a reported case of meningitis in the school system, according to a letter posted on the school’s Facebook page.

School officials said on Monday they received a letter from Nancy Greenfeather, RN, Coordinating Nurse for the Sequoyah County Health Department, regarding the case.

“This individual is not currently associated with a public health investigation and OSDH is not recommending the use of antibiotics among close contacts, testing of close contacts, or intensive cleaning of the school areas,” Greenfeather wrote. Brushy School Superintendent Jared Armer said on the school’s social media page that the school wanted to inform others about the incident, which has reportedly raised concerns among some parents and students.

“It is essential to provide you with accurate information and assure you that we have taken all necessary steps to ensure the safety and well-being of our students. We were notified that a student at our school was diagnosed with meningitis. We understand that this news may be alarming, and we want to address any concerns you may have,” Armer wrote.

“First and foremost, we would like to emphasize that the safety and health of our students are our top priorities, and we have been working diligently to address this situation. Upon learning of the diagnosis, we immediately initiated our emergency response protocols in collaboration with local health authorities.

“The affected student has received appropriate medical care, and we are in close contact with the family to provide support and guidance. I want to assure you that our school has taken proactive measures and our facilities have been thoroughly sanitized, and all commonly touched surfaces have been disinfected to ensure a clean and safe environment for our students.

“There are several strains of bacterial meningitis but this strain is not passed through close contact situations,” he stated.

Armer said Brushy School nurse, Shannon Edwards, spoke with the Epidemiologist at the OSDH, who contacted the treating hospital/physician.

“This particular strain of meningitis carries no risk to other students. If you or your child have any concerns or specific questions related to meningitis, we recommend reaching out to your healthcare provider for personalized guidance and information. We understand that this situation can be unsettling, and we are committed to maintaining open lines of communication with our school community,” he added.

Armer said for further questions or concerns, Edwards can be contacted at the school at 918-775-4458.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website, cdc.gov, meningitis is an inflammation or swelling of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. A bacteria or viral infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord usually causes the swelling. However, injuries, cancer, certain drugs, and other types of infections also can cause meningitis. It is important to know the specific cause of meningitis because the treatment differs, depending on the cause.

The letter went on to say that “antibiotics are only recommended as a preventative measure for those persons exposed to a person with meningitis caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis, or certain forms of Haemophilus.”

The CDC says having meningitis doesn’t always mean you have meningococcal disease. And having meningococcal disease doesn’t necessarily mean you have meningitis. Meningococcal disease is any illness caused by a type of bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis. These illnesses are serious and include meningitis and bloodstream infections (septicemia).

The website also says that with bacterial meningitis, “Generally, the germs that cause bacterial meningitis spread from one person to another. Certain germs can spread through food. How people spread the germs often depends on the type of bacteria.

“However, with viral meningitis, people can spread the viruses that cause viral meningitis to other people. If you have close contact with someone who has viral meningitis, they may spread the virus to you. However, you are not likely to develop meningitis. That’s because most people infected with these viruses will not develop meningitis.”

“In those instances, the state and county health departments would work together to ensure the appropriate contacts are contacted directly and obtain antibiotics,” Greenfeather wrote. “There are many different cases of meningitis, but only the bacteria listed mentioned, require a full public health investigation, which has not been identified in this instance.”

Greenfeather said that hand hygiene is the single most important action to prevent the spread of infection to others and yourself.

“It is always advised to practice good hygiene habits, such as covering the mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, throwing away used tissues, washing hands often, and not sharing personal items. Also, remember to keep your children home from school if they are ill with a fever, diarrhea or rash,” she stated.

The CDC website also states that Virginia health officials are currently responding to a statewide meningococcal disease outbreak.

For more info or questions, contact the OSDH Epidemiologist on-call at 405-426-8710, or the Sequoyah County Health Department at 918-775-6201.