By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Erie County Health Department officials Wednesday confirmed that a student from St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute has died of meningitis.
The 14-year old boy was admitted to the hospital Monday with symptoms after returning from a weekend school trip to Canada. He died Tuesday.
But officials say parents of fellow students need not be alarmed. Lab results show that the type of bacteria which caused this case of meningitis is not contagious.
"The bacteria that causes this form of meningitis is streptococcus pneumoniae. It's an extremely common bacteria," said Heather Lindstrom, an epidemiologist with the Health Department. "To develop meningitis from 'strep pneumo' infection is extremely rare.
"In Erie County, we had 119 cases of streptococcus pneumoniae reported to us last year. Of those, we only had two cases that resulted in meningitis."
Lindstrum stressed that this type of bacteria is not contagious, nor does it require any preventative treatments for those who were exposed to the student. However, officials say that parents should always call their physician with any concerns if their child has symptoms that could become more serious.