A first grade student who attends Freese Elementary Arts and Culture Magnet School in the San Diego Unified School District has an infection caused by the meningococcal bacteria, according to officials with the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA).
The student’s last day at school was November 9. The time between exposure to the disease and the onset of symptoms can be between two to 10 days. HHSA has already notified individuals with close contact with the child, including five classmates, that they should receive antibiotics to prevent any possible infection. The parents of other children at the school were advised that preventive antibiotics were not recommended, but they should be aware of possible symptoms and make sure children have had age-appropriate vaccination against the disease.
“Meningococcal disease is not spread through casual contact,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County Public Health Officer. “It is spread through close contact with the infected individual and the risk to those who are not in close, direct contact is minimal.
“Parents should be alert for any symptoms in their children that could be caused by the meningococcal bacteria.”
Symptoms may include fever, intense headache, lethargy, stiff neck and/or rash that does not blanch under pressure. A child or adult with potential exposure who develops any of these symptoms should immediately contact a healthcare provider or emergency room to arrange for an evaluation for possible meningococcal disease.
A vaccine is available to prevent certain strains of meningococcal disease and is routinely recommended for children and adolescents 11 to 18 years of age. To find out more information about this vaccine-preventable disease, please visit www.sdiz.org.
