posted on June 2, 2001 07:54:03 PM new
We have had several cases and a few deaths from bacterial meningitis in the last few months. I thought this was pretty rare, and that our area in CA was the only place this is happening.
I just read on another auction board that in NE Ohio there has also been an outbreak and deaths from meningitis.
I'm beginning to wonder if there is a bigger picture here, and it's pretty scarey. Has any one here had meningitis in your area or state?
posted on June 2, 2001 08:06:49 PM new
Thank you, chococake. This is what I wrote on the other board:
"I do not post here often, but I thought that if any one lives in the NE Ohio area (perhaps some interest elsewhere?), you may or may not be aware of this. I live in the Alliance, Ohio area. Last weekend this city lost (death)two high school students caused by bac. meningitis that went to West Branch High School. About 20 min. ago there was a new flash across the tv set....two more children have been life flighted to the Akron Children's Hospital in critical condition who went to Marlington High School. There are three high schools in this area; the third is Alliance High School. The National Guard has been called into this and are posted at our Alliance Community Hospital. The hospital's spokeperson, Dr. J. Hostetler, stated that this is the worse outbreak he has ever seen. They are giving away the antibiotic to prevent this....the line at the hospital at this very moment is over a mile long. All pharm. have been issued orders to pass these antibiotics to anyone who walks in. My daughter and daughter in law are in the hospital line now. If I can find a link (somehow; very puter stupid here), I will post it. I will apologize ahead of time if this is of no interest, but it is very frightening here. I have never seen anything like this. All graduations have been cancelled and the drs. and Cleveland news media are telling everyone to cancel all graduation parties or any large gatherings."
Our hospital is now on disaster alert. There have been 18 admissions today, all high school kids and two adults.
Our hospital is giving everyone free antibiotics....the line at the hospital is still well over a mile long. My daughter in law and daughter are still in line since 5:30 this afternoon.
posted on June 2, 2001 08:54:20 PM new
This is really frightening. I just checked
The Center for Disease Control and there is nothing about this on their web page yet.
posted on June 2, 2001 09:20:35 PM new
Nanastuff - thank you for posting that info. I'm glad you are here, I didn't know if I should have quoted you from the other board.
I was really suprised to see that there were other cases, and deaths from meningitis in another state. Do you know if anyone from your town has visited the San Francisco Bay Area recently?
The cases here were in different cities, and they gave out the antibiotics at the schools that the kids went to.Of course while reporting these cases they tried to play it down, which is hard to do when people have died, and others are standing in line waiting for antibiotics.
posted on June 2, 2001 11:13:51 PM new
I saw a story on my local news but did not catch where it occured. A teacher died of the disease within the last week. Where was that?
posted on June 3, 2001 03:47:24 AM new
Morning all...a third child did die yesterday late afternoon from Marlington School. So far the dr. (Hostetler) is saying they cannot find any link to the two kids that died last week from West Branch High and the two from Marliington. From what I am hearing, if there is a third death due to this type of illness, that is when they declare "disaster alert", which is what our hospital is under. Last week, the West Branch high school was closed and they handed out the antibiotics to all the WB high school students and their imm. families. Since this happened at Marlington, they are passing out the antibiotic to the entire city and the WB ppl. must take it again. This pill does not cure it; it just stops you from getting it IF you have been exposed. Problem is, you don't know if you have been exposed. Helen, I am not sure how it works with the Center for Disease Control, but it would be hard for me to believe that this has not been reported to them.
jt..where are you? Are you in Ohio? So far, I have not heard of an adult dying. They haven't even released the name of the third child that died yesterday.
Helen, would you give me the link to Disease Control; might be my puter, but I keep getting the "page will not display" thing.
My daughter and daughter in law stood in that hospital line until a little after 11 last night and dropped the pills off to my hubby and I. The hospital kept running out of the meds, so the Nat'l Guard kept flying more in from other states.
Sorry this is so long; it is difficult to explain all that is going on.
Edited to say: Helen, I found the link. I also sent them an email just to ask if they know anything about what is going on here. Doubt that I will hear back; don't know why, but I do doubt it.
[ edited by nanastuff on Jun 3, 2001 04:41 AM ]
posted on June 3, 2001 03:56:21 AM new
Oh chococake, I really don't know if anyone from here was in your area. In Aurora, Ohio (about a 40 min. drive from Alliance) there is a Six Flags (used to be Sea World)...they (Cleveland news chanel 5) interviewed a family that said the police from Alliance went to Six Flags yesterday with a list of Alliance names, rounded them all up, and brought them back to Alliance. This family had absolutely NO idea how the police knew where they were, much less any of the other ppl from Alliance that were at Six Flags (about 30 people total).
posted on June 3, 2001 05:22:40 AM new
In Detroit we had a cluster of menihitis cases last fall. I believe it was seven that died including a teacher's aide. They said that statistically the number of cases was not unusual but that far more of them than was usual were fatal.
This the the link for the center for disease control that you asked about. Still, there
is nothing there and nothing much on our news
in Maryland. That's strange, isn't it?
posted on June 3, 2001 05:42:51 AM new
You hit the nail on the head,Gravid: "They said that statistically the number of cases was not unusual but that far more of them than was usual were fatal."
posted on June 3, 2001 05:46:24 AM new
Hi Helen, Yes it is strange. My sister lives in Stroudsburg, Pa. and her hubby just told me that he found it on the Associated Press Wire, but I am still trying to find it. wire.sp.org
He said to click on "search" up top and then type in meningitis....I did that, but still don't see it. Will keep looking.
posted on June 3, 2001 05:55:02 AM new
found it.....here is the story on AP:
JUNE 02, 23:19 EST
Third Case of Meningitis Confirmed
ALLIANCE, Ohio (AP) — A 18-year-old high school student was diagnosed Saturday with meningitis, which within a week caused the deaths of two other teens in the community.
The girl, who attended Marlington High School, was hospitalized in critical condition with neisseria meninigitidis, said Alliance Community Hospital Medical Director Dr. Mark Hostettler.
Doctors expected to know by Sunday if the three cases were the same strain, he said.
``This, when it is contracted, is a very rapid and a very devastating disease,'' Hostettler said. ``Case mortalities in some studies have run as high as 90 percent.''
Two Beloit West Branch High School students died in the past week after being diagnosed with neisseria meninigitidis, a form of meningitis with various strains. It is spread by close contact, such as drinking out of the same container or sharing an eating utensil, health officials said.
A nursing supervisor at Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron identified the sick girl as Christin Van Camp. She had attended the funeral of an earlier victim, 16-year-old Kelly Coblentz.
Coblentz, a sophomore at West Branch, died Monday, and freshman Jonathan Stauffer, 15, died May 23. Family members described the two West Branch students as friends.
The two high schools are about 15 miles apart and students from often have social contact with each other.
Crowds lined up outside two hospitals and a clinic Saturday after local media urged students, their parents and staff in three school districts to get free preventive antibiotics.
Symptoms of meningitis include high fever, headache, stiff neck, confusion, nausea, vomiting, exhaustion and possible rash.
``It's not an epidemic but is considered an outbreak,'' said Alliance hospital spokeswoman Karen Vrabec.
Marlington postponed its graduation ceremonies scheduled for Sunday, said school district spokesman Dan Buckel. He did not know when graduation would be rescheduled. School officials were meeting Sunday to discuss whether the last three days of the school year would resume Monday.
``There's a lot of scared people,'' Buckel said. ``Obviously, it's a very emotional issue for parents.''
There are a couple of things wrong with this story. First, the kids from Marlington (they are reporting only one; there are two. The child they are not reporting, is the one that died last evening)and the kids from West Branch did not know each other. I know this first hand. Of course I must remember that this was written by the AP last night.
I will be anxious to see what else they report today.
posted on June 3, 2001 06:03:29 AM new
Just a thought - I rarely see adults share anything by mouth but in the morning I have frequently seen the high school kids at the stores across from the high school stand and share a cigerwtte among 4 or 5 of themselves. Looks like a good way to vector an infection.
posted on June 3, 2001 08:01:00 AM new
I am in MS. I saw it on one of my local channels no less than three days ago so it wasn't that old story someone mentioned. I did not recognize the school name however, so I just assumed it was part of the "National News" segment. It did not come up in a search of my state paper.
They did say the teacher had traveled recently and at the time of the broadcast there was no suggestion that children were infected.
posted on June 3, 2001 08:20:11 AM new
Thanks jt....I really doubt that this has anything to do with what is happening here. I do know that this really is NOT an "easy" thing to "catch"...it is not like you can just walk down the street and breath it in. There must be direct contact through body fluid, but like I said, you can breath it in through the nose if someone sneezes (example). In other words, it is not in the air....it needs a host. This is my understanding of this from what I am reading and hearing.
posted on June 3, 2001 08:25:43 AM new
It would be wise to remember that rumors are running rampant concerning this. I live in this area also, and know many kids who go to Marlington. As a matter of fact, most of my kids friends are from Marlingtong, including my oldest son's girlfriend who is a junior there.
The following is copied from the Canton Repository's web site/online newspaper. It is the same as the one in the print version. Because of the way the Rep handles their web site, you can't put a link directly into the individual stories. The link for the Rep main page is http://www.cantonrep.com
At-risk students, adults urged to take drug to combat disease
By DAVE SERENO Repository staff writer
ALLIANCE — In a move unprecedented locally, health officials began handing out free medication to thousands of eastern Stark County residents after a Marlington High School student was sickened with meningitis.
It was the third case reported in the last eight days, an unusual circumstance that left an 18-year-old senior fighting for her life and experts scrambling to stop the outbreak from spreading further.
Doctors at Alliance Community Hospital, after conferring with the national Centers for Disease Control and area and regional experts, recommended that those who may have been put at risk take antibiotics.
“Nothing of this magnitude has ever taken place in Stark County before,” said Stark County Health Commissioner William Franks.
Officials were concerned enough Saturday to also consider launching an immunization plan.
The decision on whether that step would be taken was not expected until today.
The groups targeted for the antibiotics are students of all ages from Alliance City and Marlington Local schools in Stark County and West Branch schools in neighboring Mahoning County and their immediate families and contacts.
That covers an estimated 25,000 people, including 10,000 students.
By noon Saturday, hundreds of people had begun converging at the hospital at 264 Rice St.
The line of those waiting to get inside later snaked out the main door, into the parking lot, around the sidewalk and around the building.
More than 550 were standing outside at 6:30 p.m. with more looking for parking spaces along the crowded streets.
“Everybody in Alliance is here,” said Jim Dillon as he and his wife hid under an umbrella.
Many expressed concern about the illness spreading in the community.
“I don’t know about panic. I would definitely say worry,” Karen Vrabec, Alliance Community spokeswoman said of the mood.
The hospital launched its disaster plan, bringing in all available employees and area medical personnel to dispense the drugs.
The supply ran out late Saturday until additional drug shipments from regional warehouses were brought in to meet demand.
Residents also can call their own physicians to get a prescription. Officials were trying to contact area pharmacies to see if they would remain open later or through the night.
The antibiotics, designed to kill the bacteria in the nose and mouth, were to be available around the clock at the hospital and its Immediate Medical Services Center at 2461 W. State St. A third location, Southeast School in Salem, was added later.
Dr. Mark Hostettler, Alliance Community’s chief medical officer, suggested that all students from kindergarten to high school receive the drugs.
“The benefit of the pill, at this point, may realistically be limited. But it’s meant to eradicate the presence of that bacteria within the population,” he said.
The next step, an unusual one, could be immunization shots, Hostettler said. Usually administered in such places as college dormitories and military barracks, they are rarely offered as a community remedy. Health officials will decide today whether to go that route.
That step has been taken recently in communities in Iowa, Utah and Florida. Officials plan to check with them to learn more about what has to be done. It would take seven to 10 days to take effect in the body.
“We are suggesting that that same risk population would receive the immunization. But we have not finalized our immunization plans at this point,” Hostettler said.
Officials also battled rumors and misinformation about meningitis and how many were affected.
“The possibility is there could be more cases. The probability is there will not be ... only time is going to tell us,” Hostettler said.
Two West Branch High School students, 15-year-old John Stauffer and 16-year-old Kelly Coblentz, died in the last eight days.
The latest victim, whose name was later reported to be Christin Van Camp, had the same symptoms of muscle ache, fever, headache, nausea and vomiting.
It was confirmed as Neisseria meningitidis. It was not yet known whether she had the same type as the other two victims. Additional testing was being done.
It also was unclear how or where Van Camp contracted the illness or whether she was a friend of the others, Hostettler said.
She did attend Coblentz’s funeral Thursday, he said. He said he would not draw any conclusions from that and did not want to speculate on a cause.
That would be left for the disease control officials to investigate.
As of late Saturday, Van Camp was in serious condition at Childrens Hospital Medical Center of Akron. She was flown there from Alliance.
“This bacteria is spread by very close, personal contact. Literally, and it sounds vulgar to say, but you have to be in contact with spit to get it. But that includes sharing glasses, sharing cigarettes,” Hostettler said.
“This, when it is contracted, is a very rapid and a very devastating disease. Case mortality in some studies go as high as 90 percent.”
Van Camp’s illness sparked the cancellation of Marlington’s graduation ceremony set for today.
That was disappointing news for seniors like Teresa Young.
But she said she understood, given the serious concern. She stood in line and got her antibiotics.
Young was so impressed with the hospital’s handling of the situation that she volunteered to return and help out.
“They’re doing a really good job of providing services as fast as they can,” she said.
Word about the health scare spread quickly in the Marlington area.
Senior Joseph Rowe said he was home watching the Cleveland Indians when he got a call about it.
Standing outside in line was not a big deal, he said.
“I think it’s a good precaution,” he said “I think we should all do it so it can’t be passed on.”
posted on June 3, 2001 08:26:33 AM new
Here is another outbreak that happened last fall - in Houston. Apparently this is how this happens - small outbreaks of a few people in one area. It seems it never spreads to a big area with hundreds of people except in Africa where sanitary standards are much lower.
posted on June 3, 2001 08:37:01 AM new
Meya & Helen,,,,thanks for posting that information.
Meya, I do agree....many many rumors. You wouldn't believe the things I have heard (well, then again, you probably have too) But, one thing for sure.....All children who attend all three of these schools and their families should have this antibiotic...
edited to say this just made CNN, but I didn't catch it all...
[ edited by nanastuff on Jun 3, 2001 08:45 AM ]
posted on June 3, 2001 04:47:56 PM new
About 40 kids from our local high school have tested positive for tuberculosis. All the kids are getting tested now.
Lisa
posted on June 3, 2001 05:17:29 PM new
Where are you Lisa? (I once knew, sorry.)
My hubby was reading that small pox is making a comeback and mentioned that.
Somewhat unrelated, we have also been hearing about the tetanus shortage. It has been going on for months. For a while, (not sure the current status), everyone here was being sent to one central location for the shot. Major emergency rooms were sewing people up, then shipping them across town for a shot.
If there is such a shortage, why don't they just produce more?
T
posted on June 4, 2001 11:50:15 AM new
I'm in Missouri. My niece and nephew are going to be tested for TB this week. My nephew initially refused to go, but his mom is making him.
Apparently one student initially spread the TB. The other students had noticed how much weight he'd lost. He'd been sick since October or November and they just recently diagnosed him, so a lot of kids at the school were exposed to it.
Lisa
