The Bryan school district is told Monday that a student became ill with bacterial meningitis last Friday.
The student attends the disciplinary alternative educational program, which is located in its own building at 1307 Memorial Drive, which is behind Bryan Collegiate high school.
Bryan ISD communications director Matt LeBlanc says all parents of a small of students at risk were called and a very small number staff were told in person.
LeBlanc says the health district notified BISD late Monday morning. The health district gave BISD a letter to send home with students who may have had contact with the impacted student.
LeBlanc also says all of those parents were also called, read the letter, and encouraged to speak with the health department.
And all BISD staff who may have had contact with the student were also told in person and given a copy of the letter.
LeBlanc says the health district told BISD that due to the type of bacterial infection the student received, additional cleaning of the building is not needed and won’t change the situation.
Click below for comments from Matt LeBlanc, visiting with WTAW’s Bill Oliver:
Bryan ISD shared with WTAW News, the following information from the Brazos County health district:
On Friday, April 26, 2019 a student at a Bryan ISD Disciplinary Alternative Educational Program became ill with bacterial meningitis. Test results on the student indicate the causative organism is a bacterium called Neisseria meningitidis.
The Brazos County Health District and Bryan ISD are collaborating to coordinate the investigation of the disease occurrence and the preventive treatment of persons who may have been exposed to the student.
Meningitis caused by N. meningitidis is contagious. The bacteria are spread during close contact through the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions (i.e., coughing; sharing food utensils, food, drinks, gum, and cigarettes; or kissing).
People in the same household, or anyone with direct contact with a patient’s oral secretions (such as a boyfriend or girlfriend) would be considered at increased risk of acquiring the infection. People who qualify as close contacts of a person with an infection caused by N. meningitidis should receive antibiotics to prevent them from getting the disease.
Common symptoms of bacterial meningitis include fever, headache, and stiff neck. Other symptoms may include rash, nausea, vomiting, discomfort looking into bright lights, confusion, and sleepiness.
Anyone who has questions about this illness or the above information may call the Brazos County Health District at 979-361-4440, call their private physician, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at https://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/bacterial.html