Rhode Island officials have made the decision to cancel school for the next two days due to a suspected case of meningitis and the recent death of a second-grader from encephalitis. It is currently being investigated whether these cases are connected.
Dr. David Gifford, state public health director, expressed that the closure was a precautionary measure taken out of concern for both the parents and the students. In addition to this, the Catholic Diocese of Providence has also closed eight schools in three communities, affecting approximately 2,600 students, as a preventive measure.
It is important to note that there have been no reported cases of meningitis or encephalitis among the students in the affected schools.
The reported case of suspected meningitis came from a student in Coventry earlier this week. Two weeks ago, a Warwick elementary school student named Dylan Gleavey tragically passed away from encephalitis. While another classmate of hers and a student from a West Warwick school also contracted encephalitis, they have since recovered.
It is believed that Dylan’s encephalitis was brought on by “walking pneumonia,” a common illness that can, in rare cases, lead to meningitis or encephalitis.
Meningitis is a dangerous inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord, while encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain.
To further investigate these cases, more epidemiologists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are being sent to Rhode Island to assist the scientists already present.
Health investigators will be spending the next few days consulting with school nurses and searching for any possible additional cases in hospitals.
The transmission of meningitis can occur through person-to-person contact or through transmission from rodents and insects to humans. However, it is important to note that exposure to the organism that causes meningitis does not necessarily mean that an individual will become infected.
Meningitis can be transmitted from one person to another in various ways, including during birth, through stool, and through coughing and sneezing. It is crucial to be aware of the specific bacteria and viruses that can be transmitted and take appropriate precautions to prevent the spread of infection.
SOURCE:BCHEALTHGUIDE, MSNBC
