Posted on 01/25/2008 9:47:04 AM PST by syriacus
A Catholic school guidance counselor in New York City has died from bacterial meningitis, CBS station WCBS-TV reported.
The New York City health department confirmed the counselor worked at St. Francis Preparatory High School in the Queens borough.
The victim's identity has not yet been released.
On Thursday, a Long Island high school senior also died suddenly from the deadly bacteria.
Michael Gruber, a senior at Massapaequa High School, was taking midterm exams and joking with friends on Wednesday when he came down with a fever and chills.
He was dead by Thursday afternoon.
After his death, the school district announced it is cleaning the high school and all facilities to prevent spread of the ailment. The school had been closed to classes all week for midterms, so there was less contact than usual with the victim.
Experts said only people with close, intimate contact with the meningitis victims need to worry. Activities like sharing food and drink are cause for concern.
Several dozen people who were close with Gruber are receiving antibiotics.
How sad. May they RIP.
RIP.
Long Island Boy, 17, Dies of Meningitis
By BRUCE LAMBERT
Published: January 25, 2008
A Long Island teenager died of meningococcal meningitis on Thursday, health officials said, prompting a warning for people who had close contact with him to seek preventive medication.
The victim’s name was not released, but he was described as a 17-year-old senior at Massapequa High School who played basketball in the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Youth Organization league and worked as a stock clerk at the King Kullen supermarket in Massapequa Park.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/25/nyregion/25meningitis.html?ref=nyregion
I had a viral meningitis when I was a kid.
It only cost me my hearing.
I was rather lucky.
It only cost me my hearing.
My son had a round with bacterial meningitis a few years ago. It was a pretty frightening thing to watch, and I can't imagine how it felt for him.
Massive amounts of IV antibiotics saved his life.
“What’s even sadder is that you can get vaccinated against it. Parents should know this.”
I’m pretty certain there’s no vaccine for bacterial meningitis. There is for the viral type.
A university basketball player here came down with it and ended up losing both arms and both legs.
My mom survived it, years ago, contracted from some eggs bought in bulk from a local farm. Docs gave her 4 hours to live and pumped her full of penicillin. God did the rest. Meanwhile, her 8 kids and the entire westside of town had to take penicllin for a month.
Both vaccines:
Protect more than 90 percent of those who get the vaccine.
Prevent 4 types of meningococcal disease, including 2 of the 3 types most common in the United States and a type that causes epidemics in Africa.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/meningitis_vaccine.htm
I grew up in Massapequa and graduated from Massapequa High School.
This is so sad. I can’t imagine how his parents feel. Imagine having a healthy high school senior taking midterms on Wednesday and then he’s dead on Thursday. They must be in complete shock.
Does anyone know why meningitis vaccinations aren’t commonly given, like other vaccinations including chicken pox are routinely given to all kids? I think most kids only get a meningitis vaccination when they’re required to when they’re entering college.
I agree.
Thanks for providing the information, srmorton.
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