Another Student Dies From Meningitis

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fair use, etc Does anyone in the group remember the 2,000,000 gal sewage spill last year into the water supply here. The pattern of case *may* be linked to the waterways here. There are *rumors* of two more confirmed case in Clear Lake. KHOU posts a map. This is very, very serious. http://www.click2houston.com/hou/news/stories/news-20010124-142913.html

Another Student Dies From Meningitis "HOUSTON, Updated 5:32 p.m. CST January 24, 2001 -- A New Caney High School student died Tuesday night from bacterial meningitis, according to school officials. Was Meningitis Inoculation Handled Properly? WEB SITES Facts About Meningococcal Meningitis From The Texas Department Of Health Meningitis Symptoms Risk Of Getting Meningitis What Is Meningitis? Vaccination Information Frequently Asked Questions About Meningitis Recovering From Meningitis Meningitis Statistics Meningitis Symptoms In Children PHONE NUMBERS Texas Department of Health: (888) 883-9997 The City of Houston Health Department: (713) 794-9181 Harris County Health Department: (713) 439-6160 New Caney ISD: (281) 354-1166 Humble ISD: (281) 641-820 This is the third death this month in the News2Houston viewing area. A 13-year-old boy from Magnolia, Texas, in Montgomery County, and a 56-year-old woman from Humble, Texas, in Harris County, also died in January. The student from Magnolia was the 10th victim of meningitis confirmed in Montgomery County in the last few months, health officials said. "It's a terrible tragedy," Magnolia Superintendent Mike Holland said of the boy's death. "Many students gathered on the football field at the junior high to support each other and pray after he died. "He had only complained of a headache after school on Thursday and woke up that night with a fever and went to the doctor's the next morning. By then, he had a rash and was throwing up. It happened very quick." More than 8,000 New Caney residents turned out Saturday for vaccinations and more vaccinations, are being sent to Conroe, Texas, for health officials to begin administering. Inoculations began Tuesday for Humble High School students at the main campus. Five of Harris County's 10 cases have been reported in the Humble area. State health officials said in a letter that the Humble cases are linked to two of the school district's campuses. A third-grade Aikin Elementary student in New Caney was being treated at Texas Children's Hospital, and school Superintendent Rick Cowan said his illness was "under control." There are also three suspected cases in the area, including two students and a 19-year-old. The fast-moving infection inflames the covering of the brain and spinal cord. In addition to causing death in about 10 percent of cases, meningitis can lead to amputations, deafness, blindness and permanent brain damage, although most people fully recover. About 17,500 cases of bacterial meningitis are confirmed each year in the United States. The infection is spread through coughing, sneezing, kissing and sharing drinking glasses and eating utensils. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define an outbreak as more than three cases of meningitis caused by the bacteria meningitis per 100,000 people and recommends mass vaccinations. Conroe To Begin Vaccinations Thursday Montgomery officials will begin administering shots at the county fairgrounds at 9301 FM 1484 to Conroe residents whose last names begin with A or B on Thursday for residents 2 and older. Inoculations are scheduled to continue through Feb. 1 based on the first letter of last names. CONROE HOURS A-B: 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday C-D: 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday E-G: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday H-K: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday L-M: 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday N-R: 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday S-T: 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday U-Z: 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 1 Officials stressed that the vaccinations are only for citizens of Conroe and that proof of residency will be required. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian or have written permission. The shots cost $10 each, but no one will be turned away for inability to pay. The vaccinations were recommended Monday when four or five cases in Conroe were found to be of the same strain, placing the city over the threshold where inoculations are suggested. The vaccine that has been developed is effective against four strains of bacteria that cause the illness, but the protection takes two weeks to develop and wears off in a few years. Health officials said that the vaccinations would not protect someone who already has the illness. The Texas Health Department recommends a two-day course of antibiotics for those who have had close contact with someone who contracted the infection, such as family members. Second Student In Lamar CISD Diagnosed With Infection For the second time in less than a week, a Lamar School District student was diagnosed with a case of bacterial meningitis. An eighth-grade student at Lamar Junior High School developed symptoms Thursday and was taken to the emergency room at Polly Ryon Memorial Hospital by her parents, Lamar CISD spokeswoman Christy Willman said. Hospital officials confirmed the case of meningitis to the Fort Bend County Health Department last Friday. Willman said that the student was in class last Wednesday, but missed school on Friday. A second-grade student at Pink Elementary School was also confirmed to have the infection. Katy Area On Full Alert A meningitis outbreak in the Houston area has many Katy, Texas, citizens on alert. A 13-year-old Katy boy was reported having been treated in a Houston hospital for meningitis symptoms last week. Kris Taylor, Katy ISD's director of communications, confirmed that the boy was not enrolled in the district. "He is not a student here, but we are being careful about any students who could display any of the meningitis symptoms," Taylor said. Taylor said that nurses around the district are on full alert, carefully checking for meningitis symptoms in students complaining of illness. A high school student at Mayde Creek High School suddenly died of meningitis three years ago, leaving the community stunned. Lewis Rice III died Sept. 20, 1997, after complaining that morning of a pain in his head and stomach. He had also complained the day before after playing in a football game. The Katy area is not on outbreak status..."

-- tex (tex@tex.com), January 24, 2001


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