Bacterial Meningitis Case Diagnosed At Hopedale High School
HOPEDALE (CBS) - Parents and kids in Hopedale are learning that someone at the high school has been diagnosed with bacterial meningitis.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Mark Katic reports
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A full-time employee at the high school is recovering at a local hospital after she was diagnosed earlier this week, prompting an alert from the school Wednesday.
The unidentified woman is expected to make a full recovery.
Schools Superintendent Dennis Breen told WBZ NewsRadio Thursday that parents were nervous when the alert went out, but state health officials say they're in the clear.
"The Department of Public Health said there was no need for any extraordinary precautions other than notifying people and providing information. Should there be any further concern by pediatricians, then the parents should call us and then the Department of Public Health may take a deeper look," Breen said.
"But at this point in time, with the information they were given, the feeling was we're at very, very low risk."
Parents are being urged to watch their kids for symptoms.
Read: Notice to Hopedale parents
Meningitis is an infection of the tissue that covers the brain and spinal cord.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bacterial meningitis can be quite severe and may result in brain damage, hearing loss, or learning disabilities.
Read: Meningitis Questions & Answers
To stop the spread of meningitis, health officials urge you to wash your hands with soap and water and to have students avoid sharing drinks, food and utensils at school.
