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No new cases of bacterial meningitis have been reported in Houston County
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By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
“We haven’t had any other confirmed cases here, and there really aren’t any obvious links that we have been able to determine. But we are continuing to treat this as a serious issue,” said Caledonia Area Schools nurse Carrie Ott.
“The school is a very good place to try to educate the public about this issue. But we don’t feel this originated from the school. It’s a community-wide, or even county-wide issue,” Ott pointed out.
Ott was referring to the four cases of bacterial meningitis in and around Houston County that have been reported during the past month. Ages of the individuals affected range from 16 years old to 37 years old.
The first case was reported in March when a Caledonia Area High School student was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. As soon as it was confirmed by the Minnesota State Health Department, notification and informational materials were sent home with every student in the school district.
Close friends of the Caledonia senior were closely monitored to ensure no one else was infected. The CAHS senior has since recovered, and no other students have been diagnosed with bacterial meningitis.
Three weeks later Jeremy Leis, who serves as the assistant coach for the Caledonia boys golf team became ill while on a weekend golfing trip to Missouri with the varsity golf team. After returning from the trip, it was determined Leis had been stricken with bacterial meningitis. The six members of the golf team who accompanied Leis on the trip were given medication, their parents were advised of the situation, and the health of all six closely monitored. According to Ott, none of the students had any symptoms.
Leis was hospitalized, treated, released, and has recovered.
Two other cases afflicting a Caledonia-area resident and a person living near New Albin, Iowa, were reported. Those two cases have also been confirmed as the same serotype as the first two.
“We haven’t heard of any other cases, and the state really doesn’t feel this is anything specific to Houston County,” County Public Health Nursing Director Deb Rock said Friday morning. “The cases were all the same serotype, but other than that, there is really no other common link between the three cases here and the one in Iowa.
“We have contacted all of the clinics and hospitals in the area alerting them of this to pay special attention to anyone with the symptoms,” Rock added.
Signs and symptoms include high fever, headache, stiff neck, or the development of a dark purple rash. These symptoms at first may appear similar to other illnesses such as the flu, but the symptoms progress rapidly and persons with meningococcal disease can become seriously ill 12-24 hours after symptoms start.
It is important that the public is knowledgeable about the signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease and contact their local provider immediately if they have them.
There is a vaccine against bacterial meningitis but it does not protect against the specific serotype that has been identified in the cases in this cluster. Because there is no vaccine to protect against the current serotype that has been identified in Houston County, it is very important to practice prevention through simple infection control practices.
The most effective way to prevent the spread of meningitis and many other infections is conscientious and consistent hand washing. The use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers is also very effective. Since the bacteria that causes bacterial meningitis or meningococcal disease is spread through the sharing of oral secretions, it is also very important that individuals do not share lip gloss, cigarettes, and eating or drinking utensils (pop cans/bottles, water bottles, straws, cups, etc.). Kissing can also spread the bacteria.
“We have been really pushing hand sanitizing at the school,” Ott noted. “It is so important, not just for this medical issue, but to help cut down on the spread of many diseases to wash your hands when you come home from school, work, church, anyplace where you might come in contact with someone who has a cold, flu, or other communicable sicknesses.”
Sharing water bottles during athletic practices or games is another big no-no, according to Ott.
The Minnesota Department of Health has been working closely with local public health officials and the school district to protect the health of the community.
Current immunization guidelines for meningitis do call for children from 11 to 18 years old to be immunized with the meningitis vaccine.
For more information you may call Houston County Public Health at (507) 725-5810, or check the Houston County website at www.houstoncounty.govoffice2.com click on the County Offices and Departments section left side of screen and scroll down to click on Public Health. There is also information on meningococcal disease on the MN Department of Health website at www.health.state.mn.us or you may call the state health department at (651) 201-5414 or 877-676-5414.
You can contact Charlie Warner at
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Meningitis is a dangerous and sometimes fatal inflammation of the brain and/or spinal cord that can leave survivors with serious life-long physical problems such as deafness, brain damage and other disabilities. Complications from bacterial meningitis can sometimes result in loss of limbs.
MFA has many spokespersons available and would like to be considered as a news resource for the disease. If you would like to arrange an interview with a spokesperson please call Jamie Callahan, General Manager of the MFA. A MFA press kit and, for television producers, b-roll footage is available upon request. For further information, visit the MFA website at www.musa.org.
MFA is proud to announce the new C.I.S.S. Container Identification Scratch System
When we participate in sporting events or mingle at social gatherings it is possible to lose track of our water bottles and/or beverage cans, especially those served in containers that are very similar or identical to a container from which you are drinking. Thus making it difficult to identify your drink. This carries the risk of transmitting an illness, such as meningitis or the common cold or flu. The Container Identification Scratch System, or C.I.S.S., is a fun way to make sure you always know your drink from others. Use it at sporting events or at a family gatherings and reduce the waste from forgotten drinks. Simply scratch your number from the C.I.S.S. label and identify your drink. For more information please contact Bob Gold at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Thank you,
Ms. Jamie Callahan, General Manager
Meningitis Foundation of America
212 W 10th Street, Suite B-330.
Indianapolis, IN 46202
(800) 668-1129 ext.7
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and
Caroline L. Petrie
MFA National Secretary