Meningitis outbreak closes elementary school

HUNTINGTON, Ind. -- Health officials closed an elementary school Tuesday where three students have been diagnosed with bacterial meningitis.\nNorthwest Elementary School is being closed for three days so that students, teachers and staff can receive preventative medical treatment.\n"All students and faculty must be on preventive medication to be readmitted to the school," Dr. Thomas Ringenberg, the Huntington County health officer, said Tuesday.\nRingenberg took the action after a first-grader, a second-grader and a fourth-grader at the school about 20 miles southwest of Fort Wayne were confirmed to have the disease, the Herald-Press of Huntington reported.\nBacterial meningitis is a serious infection of the fluid and membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. It is spread through coughing, kissing and other close contact. The symptoms are flu-like and can include high fever, headache, nausea, vomiting and a stiff neck.\nThe disease kills roughly 10 percent of its victims and does serious harm, including brain damage, in another 10 percent. A viral form of meningitis exists but is generally less serious.\nThe three children are not related and it was not immediately known whether they came in contact with each other, Ringenberg said. No common link has been found except that they attend the same school, which has 435 students in kindergarten through fifth grade.\nThe fourth-grader was diagnosed last week and the second-grader's diagnosis was confirmed Sunday. The first-grader was confirmed Monday.\nOfficials said they were being treated at hospitals in Fort Wayne.\nRingenberg said the school must be closed for three days to give health officials time to obtain the needed medication.\nBill Kirby, the school district's superintendent, said the district had been assured by health officials that enough antibiotics would be available for students, teachers and staff.\nThe school will be scrubbed down with antiseptic cleaners and bleach while it is closed, he said.