Viral meningitis case confirmed at Corbin Intermediate School

As if the upcoming flu season and recent H1N1 scare is not enough to worry about, Corbin Independent Schools officials announced there is a confirmed case of viral meningitis in one of it’s schools.

Tuesday, school officials sent a letter home to parents and guardians of children at Corbin Intermediate School, which houses 5th and 6th grade students, alerting them of a confirmed case of viral meningitis.

The letter states that the student, whose diagnosis was confirmed Tuesday morning, is currently under a doctor’s care and is reportedly doing better. It says that the students became ill last week and that he has not attended school this week.

According to Corbin Independent Schools Superintendent Ed McNeel, the good news if there is any in a situation such as this, is that students and teachers in districts around the state have stepped up precautions relating to proper hygiene in an attempt to reduce the risk of contracting influenza as well as H1N1.

"The good thing is that we have already stepped up efforts as far as hygiene is concerned in regards to flu season," McNeel said. "We are just trying to reemphasize the importance of hand washing, cleaning up soiled areas and limiting contact with one another."

Susie Hart, Corbin’s director of public relations, drafted the letter that was sent home and in it, explained that viral meningitis was the least dangerous, but precautions are still necessary.

In the letter, she explained that there are two basic types of meningitis, bacterial and viral. The case in reference is viral, which is the more common type. She said viral meningitis usually does not cause serious illness, but in severe cases, it can cause prolonged fever and seizures.

Viral meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord which can be caused by different viruses, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website. A commonly prescribed treatment for viral meningitis is bed rest, plenty of fluids and medicines to relieve fever and headache.

Hart said that the school had already been cleaned extensively in response to the student’s diagnosis, but that children and parents need to take the proper precautionary methods as far as spreading germs overall.

"I understand that they took the proper precautions as soon as they found out, but it is still very important for students to keep their hands clean and keep the area around them free of germs," Hart said. "But, the important thing to know about viral meningitis is that it is extremely difficult to spread.

"According to the CDC, you would almost have to sneeze into someone’s mouth in order for them to contract this," she said. "Then, even if you contract the virus portion of it, it is possible that you won’t even develop meningitis."

According to the CDC Website, common symptoms in infants are fever, irritability, poor eating, hard to awaken. The common symptoms in adults are high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to bright light, sleepiness or trouble waking up, nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite. The symptoms of viral meningitis usually last from 7 to 10 days, and people with normal immune systems usually recover completely.