Two meningitis deaths in 5 months at the same high school

[Pipanella]

This is just awful, and I cried this past weekend when I heard the latest death. It just hit too close to home, when I think that that could have been me.

In North Manchester, which is where Jenna goes to college (at Manchester College), two high school boys have died in the last 5 months from bacterial meningitis, the same kind I had.

The first one was Derek's mom's best friend's son. (Derek was Jenna's last boyfriend). This latest one was a member of the basketball team, a junior at N. Manchester high school, and they thought he was getting better, then he died. The meningitis had just destroyed his body.

They are now inspecting the school, but it's generally spread by bodily fluid contact (coughing, kissing, sneezing, sharing of eating utensils, etc.)

Here's what I think...........we know that up to 10% of the population carries this bacteria at all times in their nasal cavities, but they don't get the disease. I think there is someone, a student probably, that is a carrier there!

Remember when I got mine, we had just had visitors from England, and the wife was sneezing a lot, due to allergy to our cat. Then a couple of years later, their own SON had to be rushed to the hospital with the exact same type of meningitis and he nearly died from it, too. Coincidence? I don't think so.

Why have they not thought of the carrier theory??

Student dies of bacterial meningitis
WKJG-TV
Updated: 9:35 p.m. ET Dec. 14, 2003

Dec. 12 - A local teenager has died after coming down with bacterial meningitis.

The students and staff of Manchester High School are mourning the loss of 17 year old Kyle Music.

Music was a junior who played on the basketball team. The high school brought in counselors and pastors to help students deal with his death.

The school says Music started coming down with flu-like symptoms last Friday, and went home from school.

Within a matter of hours, his condition worsened and he was taken to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.

That is where he was diagnosed and treated for bacterial meningitis.

Dr. Diane Showalter, superintendent of Manchester Schools says, "The water is safe the desks are safe, we will clean the building as we always do, that's what the state board of health has told us to do, we're encouraging kids not to drink after each other, share utensils, anything that goes in the mouth."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say bacterial meningitis is not as easy to spread as the flu or a cold. It's spread by direct contact. The bacteria can live for some time outside the body.

Funeral arrangements for Music have not yet been released.

[sblme28]

so sad! all college and hs students should get the meng. vaccine...it's so dangerous!

[crazytimes]

Yes, it is important to get it! Most colleges offer it for free, maybe high schools should begin to.

[Pipanella]

I e-mailed one of the local news stations that carried the story, and I got a response back almost immediately:

Kylee,

Thank you for your note, insight and suggestions. I have forwarded your note to our assignment desk and we will begin looking into what they intend or will do in the N. Manchester situation. We may like to talk with you in the future, if that's possible.

Have a nice holiday.

Victor

[tlspiegel -Closed]

Awwww... so sad. Good for you for following up with the infomation to the local station. So sad.

[Jennifer M.]

Originally Posted by Pipanella

I e-mailed one of the local news stations that carried the story, and I got a response back almost immediately:

That's not Victor Locke from WPTA is it?

[Pipanella]

One and the same, Jennifer!

[stormy0918]

my cousin was the first one to die. y didn't u post anything about him? it makes me mad that no one knows his name, when everyone else knows kyle music's name.