Palm Beach State College’s Lake Worth Campus Sees a Case of Bacterial Meningitis
Meningitis is essentially defined as inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. In many cases, it can be severe as it could lead to serious complications.
On Wednesday, the Department of Health in Palm Beach County sent out a letter to the staff and students of Palm Beach State College in Lake Worth to inform them of a confirmed bacterial meningitis case.
In order to ensure the safety of staff and students, health officials did carry out an investigation which led to their findings that there is no risk to the general population of the school.
However, officials did take several precautionary measures to ensure no one else contracts the meningitis.
Health officials worked with the College to identify all individuals that came in close contact of the infected persons and gave them antibiotics to ensure prevention.
According to WPTV, the college also informed staff and students of restricted areas on campus of which the individual may have been in contact.
Symptoms of meningitis include headache, fever and mental confusion.
Bacterial meningococcal can be spread through close coughing, kissing, or lengthy contact.
Health officials did reassure students that this certain kind of bacteria is not as contagious and easily spread as germs that cause a cold or flu. Casual contact should be fine.
