A letter that went home today with students at Cedar Heights Junior High School advises families that a student at the school has been diagnosed as having “probable meningococcal disease,” a serious and, in severe cases, potentially fatal disease caused by a bacteria. The letter, from Dr. Scott Lindquist, director of the Kitsap County Health District, indicated, however, that there is no cause for alarm. Transmission of the disease occurs by having “close, intimate contact” with someone who has the disease, Lindquist wrote. That would be along the lines of kissing, sharing utensils or other contact that exposes a person to the oral secretions of the infected person. The student in question is a wrestler, and as a precaution, members of the school’s wrestling team will receive preventive treatment. Other students need not be treated, Lindquist said.
I am writing a story on the district’s press release that will appear later at www.kitsapsun.com. Lindquist’s letter can be found at Cedar Heights’ Web site.
