ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, May 23, 1996 TAG: 9605240001
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: FLOYD
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE
The high school teacher struck with meningitis last week has been moved out of intensive care. No other cases have been reported in the area.
Dr. Jody Hershey, director of the New River Health District, said the teacher is still in stable condition but doing well. He said it appears the teacher won't suffer any long-term damage.
Meningitis, an infection caused by a virus or bacteria, causes an inflammation of the brain. Infected people, who often have no symptoms, spread the infection through direct contact with nose and throat secretions.
Only those who live with an infected person or share drinking or eating utensils, for example, could catch meningitis.
Hershey said five students were tested for the infection, along with the teacher's family members. No one tested positive for meningitis, but antibiotics were given to family members as a preventative measure, Hershey said.
He said the teacher likely picked up the infection from a carrier who didn't know they were sick.
Symptoms of meningitis include nausea, headache, fever and sometimes sleepiness or confusion. Meningococcal meningitis, the type of bacteria that affected the teacher, occurs in two out of every 100,000 people each year in Virginia, Hershey said.
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