Two Deaths in New England Health Scare

This article covers information regarding the two New England states specifically affected by the current sudden outbreak of two deadly diseases that tend to strike young people: meningitis and encephalitis.

It has been confirmed that a University of New Hampshire student, Danielle Thompson, died from bacterial meningitis this week. Health officials, concerned about the possibility of a widespread outbreak of the potentially fatal disease, made serious precautionary treatment recommendations to over 75 people in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Thompson, age 21, a Bangor, Maine resident, apparently contracted the illness that killed her while on vacation from her studies as a student at the University of New Hampshire. Since Thompson traveled extensively during her holiday break, the people potentially exposed to the disease include those living in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Kentucky, Illinois, and Missouri.

Meningitis is an infection of the fluid of a person's spinal cord and the fluid that surrounds the brain. Danielle Thompson died from the bacterial form; however, a viral form of the disease exists as well. Symptoms of meningitis include high fever, headache, stiff neck and sometimes a rash. There are several other possible symptoms.

State of New Hampshire health officials warned that this and other deadly bacterial infections can be avoided by proper and simple hygiene such as thorough washing of the hands as well as not sharing dishes, drinking glasses and cooking utensils. University of New Hampshire officials will have complete information ready to disseminate to all students upon their return to campus on January 16, 2007 regarding the treatment and prevention of meningitis and related illnesses.

In Rhode Island, three school districts have been closed for several days in hopes of breaking the cycle of the spread of pneumonia, meningitis and encephalitis after several confirmed cases and one death. Encephalitis is very similar to meningitis in that it also involves the infection or inflammation of the fluid surrounding the brain.

School officials of Warwick, West Warwick and Coventry noted that since fall, there has been a higher than usual absentee rate among schools in the affected districts, particularly in the elementary schools. On December 1, 2006, the first seriously ill child, Dylan Gleavey, age 7, was admitted to the hospital.

It was announced tonight, Saturday, January 6, that the schools in all cities will reopen on Monday, January 8. The decision was made after consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and analysis of samples from the affected students. Rhode Island state Governor Carcieri is mandating certain health controls to be in place for the students by Monday. These controls will include use of items such as antibacterial wipes and sanitizing gels.

There were a number of meetings held by school and state health officials to warn parents and keep them informed after Dylan Gleavey's health situation became grave. Two weeks into his hospital stay, Dylan's illness had escalated to encephalitis. At that same time, in mid-December, two other students were admitted to the hospital. One of those students also had encephalitis, and one was diagnosed with meningitis. Additionally, there were two other suspected cases of meningitis in the state.

Rhode Island officials are cautiously optimistic that the health situation is now under control. School officials, parents and school nurses will remain on "high alert" to catch any further cases that may appear. The disease of so-called "Walking Pneumonia" is also on the watch list since it can escalate into one of the more deadly diseases of meningitis or encephalitis.

Dylan Gleavey passed away on December 21, 2006. Christmas will never be the same for his grieving family, although Dylan's illness and subsequent death may have spared other children from the same fate.