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45 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, December 28, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 11, 2004 New meningitis case sparks search Officials wonder if other students were exposed after second case is found at South By BILL KETTLER Mail Tribune The second case of meningitis at South Medford High School in two months has prompted public health officials to look for others who may have been exposed to the disease. A male student was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis last week after he was treated at a local hospital. A boy who fell ill in March also had bacterial meningococcal disease, but the two boys did not know each other, had no contact and are not related, said Dr. Jim Shames, Jackson County’s medical officer. Meningitis is an infection of the spinal cord fluid and the fluid that surrounds the brain. It can be caused by a virus or several kinds of bacteria. High fever, headache and stiff neck are the most common symptoms, and they often develop within a day. Shames said meningococcal disease can be treated effectively with antibiotics, but finding others who may be infected is important because the disease can be life threatening. Meningococcal disease is relatively rare because it’s hard to spread, Shames said. Oregon reported about 50 cases in 2002, the most recent year for which data is readily available, and the number of cases reported in Oregon has declined steadily over the past 10 years, according to data from the Oregon Department of Human Services. Advertisement Physicians generally figure four hours of close contact is required for the bacteria to have a chance to spread. People who are most likely to be infected are usually not hard to find, Shames said, because the bacteria typically spreads through the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions in activities such as coughing and kissing. "They’re usually family members, boyfriends or girlfriends," he said. School District 549C distributed letters Thursday to students who had classes with the infected student, and the school district mailed letters to all of the school’s 1,600 students. Principal Cynda Rickert said in the letter that school custodians had disinfected all classrooms that had been used by the infected student. Parents of about 150 students who attend the alternative Medford Opportunity High School were not notified because school administrators felt there was little chance those students would be exposed to the bacteria, said Kevin Campbell, a South High assistant principal. Alternative school students attend classes in buildings on the South campus far removed from those used by the student who fell ill, Campbell said. Those students should have been notified, too, said Ellen Miller of Medford, whose son attends night classes at the alternative school. "Don’t night school students mean squat to them?" Miller said. Shames said the disease is often spread in crowded public places such as public schools, dormitories and army bases. South High students have been encouraged to avoid sharing food, drinks, lipstick, lip balm and cigarettes to reduce their chances of contracting the disease. People who smoke or are exposed to cigarette smoke increase their chance of contracting meningitis by a factor of four, Shames said. About 10 percent of the population carry the meningitis bacteria without becoming ill. On the Web: www.cdc.gov/ . On the left side of the home page, look for "Health and Safety topics," then click on "Diseases and Conditions." Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Citibank Student Loans Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems