County health officials and Bonita Vista High School officials are working to contact students, staff and faculty regarding a recent case of meningococcal disease on campus, the county announced Tuesday.
County officials did not reveal if the person diagnosed with the bacterial infection is a student or staff member, but said the individual is expected to recover after a stint in the hospital to receive antibiotic treatment.
Officials with the county Health and Human Services Agency have alerted the person’s close contacts to receive antibiotics, as well.
“While meningococcal disease can be serious and deadly, it is not spread through casual contact. Therefore, the risk to those who were not in close, direct contact is minimal,” said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county’s public health officer. “We want to make sure students are up to date on their vaccinations and make sure that those in the school community look for the appropriate signs and symptoms.”
The case is not connected to the rash of meningococcal disease cases last year at San Diego State University, according to the county. It is the second recorded case of the infection this year.
Symptoms of meiningococcal disease can include fever, headaches, light and noise sensitivity, neck stiffness and a rash. The disease is generally spread through oral contact such as kissing or sharing items like cigarettes or drinking glasses but can also be spread by breathing the air in a room with an infected person.
— City News Service