Officials: Bacterial meningitis kills two Oklahoma students

CNN Health ^ | 3/11/10 | left that other site

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Officials: Bacterial meningitis kills two Oklahoma students March 11, 2010 1:36 p.m. EST STORY HIGHLIGHTS

* Students from Oologah-Talala public school district in rural Oklahoma * Authorities are investigating four other possible cases of bacterial meningitis * Medical team may screen students, begin vaccinations, school superintendent says

(CNN) -- Authorities are investigating six possible cases of bacterial meningitis -- including two deaths -- in rural Oklahoma elementary school students.

The Rogers County Health Department and Oklahoma State Department of Health said two children from Oologah-Talala public school district have died from the disease. One of them was an 8-year-old, said Superintendent Rick Thomas.

Thomas said school was canceled Friday for the district.

"We just feel like we would rather err on the side of caution," he said, although he has urged parents to remain calm.

The state health board said it was providing antibiotics to the schools to help prevent the spread of meningococcal disease -- caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis -- which can appear as pneumonia, septicemia or meningitis.

Meningitis is a disease caused by the inflammation of the meninges, the thin lining that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A medical team at Oologah Lower Elementary School screened more than 100 people including faculty,

[reaganaut]

Prayers up and pinging the FI’s to pray as well.

[editor-surveyor]

Can’t seem to ping anyone to this thread - getting an error message

[left that other site]

I am not sure, but it seems to hit adolescents more.

[guido911]

As a Tulsan, this really hits close to home. Prayers up for the souls of these little ones and to their families.

[left that other site]

Thank you for your prayers.

[left that other site]

How is your daughter now? Is she OK?

[left that other site]

Amen!

Thank you so much for your heartfelt prayer!

[left that other site]

Amen and thank you.

[brytlea]

Oh my, my prayers for everyone!

[left that other site]

WOW!

Thank you for that!

That is frightening.

[left that other site]

Amen, Reaganaut, and thank you for the ping!

[editor-surveyor]

Prayer ping!

[left that other site]

Oh my...Could it be due to heavy traffic on FR?

[editor-surveyor]

Prayer ping!

[MonicaG]

Amen. Praying for the families and the community.

[left that other site]

Thank You!

Is there much news coverage of this in Oklahoma?

I only heard of it from my Cousin and then did an Internet Search for the article.

[editor-surveyor]

I found the problem; a bad character had corrupted one of the mames in my ping list

[left that other site]

Thank you for your prayers!

This thread has been up for less than 25 minutes and the response is overwhelming.

Wait till my Cousin sees this!

[editor-surveyor]

Prayer ping!

[brytlea]

I find we have a great bunch of prayers warriors on FR. It’s so awesome to see the power of prayer. Please keep us posted. This is scary stuff.