Meningitis Scare at Union Township Elementary in New Jersey

Health officials believe that the death of an 8 year old boy of Union Township New Jersey was due to bacterial meningitis. Union Township Elementary, the school at which the child was enrolled, has taken every precaution to ensure the safety of its students and faculty; "sanitizing every doorknob, desktop, and any other surface" in order to prevent the growth or spread of any bacteria. Officials from the Hunterdon County Health Department have concluded that other cases of meningitis are highly improbable and unlikely. The 15 individuals or so, who may have had close contact with the child, have all been referred for medical treatment as a safeguard. This was not the only case of meningitis in New Jersey recently, as a 17 year old High-School student at Matawan Regional High School passed away less than a month ago. This is the county's first case of the disease in 13 years, and this rare occurrence should not cause a scare to anyone living in the area.

Some symptoms of bacterial meningitis too look out for are (but are not limited too): fever, headache, vomiting, neck stiffness and a rash. Most cases of bacterial meningitis differ based on the offending pathogen, but are all treatable with antibiotics. A way to significantly reduce your risk of contracting the disease is to get the vaccination, which should be available to you via your physician. As like with other diseases, viruses, bacteria, etc., a more immediate, and day-to-day method of prevention is to wash your hands, food, and sanitize work areas to prevent the spread or growth of bacteria. While although the death of this child was tragic, it should not cause seismic shake-ups in your daily routine; just being conscientious and proactive will surely keep you, and your families safe and healthy.