The Texas County Health Department said Monday afternoon it knows of no cases of meningitis in Texas County despite rumors circulating in the community.
That comes after the superintendent of the Mansfield School District asked parents to watch their children for signs of bacterial meningitis. In a letter to parents, dated Sunday, Superintendent Randy Short says a high school student has the potentially fatal disease.
Officials in Texas County said there are some close contacts being treated in the county as a precaution.
Two persons recently died at Fort Leonard Wood and two others appear to have symptoms consistent with the disease, officials said last week.
Short says people who have had “close contacts of this student have already been identified and treated appropriately. Developing the disease through secondary contact with an infected individual is rare.”
Meningitis is an infection of the fluid around the spinal cord and brain. It is usually caused by a virus or by bacteria. Common symptoms include a high fever, headache and stiff neck.
Early diagnosis and treatment is very important. It is important to know if the disease is caused by a virus or bacteria. Viral meningitis is usually less severe and goes away without specific treatment. Bacterial meningitis can be very severe and can lead to hearing loss, learning disability or brain damage.
It is also important to know which bacteria caused the illness for treatment decisions.
Health officials said Monday there are some simple steps to increase protection against it: Stay current on recommended vaccinations, wash your hands frequently with soap and water and clean common surfaces and avoid sharing personal items like toothbrushes, eating utensils and drinks.