LOWER LAKE >> Following a round of tests, county officials reported that the bout of bacterial meningitis suffered by a Lower Lake High School student poses little public health risk.
With the assistance of the California Department of Public Health’s laboratory, specialized laboratory techniques were able to identify the causative bacteria as streptococcus pneumoniae.
“This is a huge relief,” according to Lake County Health Officer Karen Tait. “Even though pneumococcal meningitis is as serious an infection as meningococcal disease, it does not pose the same risk for outbreaks.”
Two different bacteria most commonly cause this form of meningitis, which is a rare, but serious illness. Meningococcal infection tends to target children, teens and young adults and occasionally results in outbreaks of multiple cases. Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), the type of meningitis that the student was identified as having, is the other likely culprit. In contrast to meningococcal infections, pneumococcal meningitis does not require public health interventions to prevent outbreaks.
Initial laboratory testing did not identify the cause of the infection, so officials opted to recommend treatment of close contacts to protect against the possibility of meningococcal disease.
Meningococcal disease is a serious infection that can cause an infection of the bloodstream (sepsis) and the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). Symptoms include fever, chills and, in some cases, headache, stiff neck, and rash. The infection is spread through respiratory secretions and aerosols, but is not as easily spread as the common cold or influenza. Close contacts can be protected from the illness with preventive antibiotics, usually a single dose, if given soon after exposure.
As a precaution, local healthcare providers, Lower Lake High School and local public health authorities coordinated to offer this protection to potentially exposed students on Monday and Tuesday.
After the case was discovered last week, local school, healthcare and public health authorities rapidly mobilized to prevent additional cases. According to sources close to the high school, testing was completed on two others who came in contact with the student. These returned as negative. Precautionary treatment was recommended to dozens more.
“We are so fortunate to have the assistance of the medical community at times like this,” Tait said. “Without their active participation in identifying and intervening on public health risks, we would not be as able to act as quickly as we did to a possible public health threat.”
Equally important in the effort was the role of the school district and its school nurses, who moved quickly to respond.
“We are confident that the quick and timely response and collaboration of Lake County Public Health, local health providers, and the Konocti Unified School District minimized the risk of an outbreak,” Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg added
Vaccines are available to protect against both pneumococcal and meningococcal infections, but they do not protect against all types. Still, they are highly effective in reducing the frequency of serious infections. Both adults and children should receive recommended vaccinations as part of their normal healthcare maintenance.
