Letter from Orcas Island School District Superintendent Barbara Kline

March 22, 2010

Dear Parent or Caregiver,

Two cases of viral meningitis have been reported at Orcas Island High School. The following is information provided by the San Juan County Health Department. We will be taking precautions in the schools to reduce the risk of the transmission of this virus.

What is meningitis?
Meningitis is a disease caused by the inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord known as the meninges. The inflammation is usually caused by an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis is also referred to as spinal meningitis.

Meningitis may develop in response to a number of causes, usually bacteria or viruses, rarely meningitis can also be caused by fungus, physical injury, cancer or certain drugs.  It is important to know the cause of the meningitis as the treatment will be different depending on the cause. There are several actions you can take to help prevent infection caused by these organisms.

There are many viruses that can cause meningitis like enteroviruses, coxsackie virus, measles virus, herpes simplex virus, varicella (chickenpox) virus, adenoviruses, Leptospira, etc… There are three bacteria that cause 75% of bacterial meningitis (90% in children under 5 years); they are vaccine preventable: Neisseria meningitides, Streptococcus pneumonia, and Haemophilus Influenza (Hib).

What are the symptoms?

• Sudden high fever (usually 102º F or more)
• Chills
• Severe headache
• Difficulty breathing
• Stiff neck and back
• Painful joints
• Vomiting
• Extreme sleepiness and/or confusion
• Loss of consciousness/seizures
• Rash or bluish/purple splotches.
• In babies under one year of age, the soft spot on the top of the head (fontanel) may bulge upward.

How is it spread?

• The viruses and bacteria are present in the noses and throats of ill persons and spread to close contacts through saliva or nose and throat secretions when talking, coughing, sneezing, kissing, etc.
• Meningococcal infections spread by close contact. For example, among household members or people spend many hours together in close proximity (within 3 feet). It is not spread simply by being in the same room or class room with an infected person.
• Transmission occurs by sharing eating utensils, glassware, cigarettes, or toothbrushes.
  It takes 1 to 10 days from the time a person is exposed to the bacteria for symptoms to occur, although 3 to 4 days is the most common time frame for people to develop symptoms.

Diagnosis and treatment

• People with bacterial meningococcal disease frequently require hospitalization.
• The infection is diagnosed by testing the patient’s blood or spinal fluid.
• All people who have had close contact with someone with meningococcal disease should:
  1. Be prescribed an antibiotic medicine by their health care provider as soon as possible to help prevent meningococcal disease.
  2. Watch for symptoms of meningococcal disease for 10 days after last contact with the ill person, even if they took antibiotics to prevent infection.
  3. Contact their health care provider right away if they develop fever, headache or other symptoms described on this sheet.

Prevention

1. Cover your Cough
2. Wash your Hands
3. Vaccination: Beginning in 2005, a vaccine to protect against meningococcal disease is available for persons between 11 and 55 years of age. The vaccine is recommended for young adolescents (age 11-12 years), college freshmen living in dormitory-style housing, and others at increased risk for meningococcal disease (contact your health care provider or local public health agency for more information). Vaccine may also be used by public health authorities in certain outbreak settings.
4. Avoid close contact with persons with respiratory infections (who are coughing and sneezing.)
5. Avoid sharing food, drinks (water bottles), cigarettes, or eating utensils.
6. Taking care of your immune system by eating well, getting enough sleep, and de-stressing if you are feeling overwhelmed.
7. Stay home if you are sick to give yourself time to recover and not spread the illness to others.
   For more information about Viral Meningitis we recommend that you visit the Center For Disease Controls website: http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/about/faq.html If you have questions or concerns please contact the San Juan County Health Department, (360) 378-4474.

Thank you,

Barbara Kline
Superintendent
Orcas Island School District