UNION CITY OFFICIALS SAY MENINGITIS APPEARS ISOLATED, UNLIKELY TO
The Record (Bergen County, NJ) November 26, 1999 | JULIE FIELDS, Staff Writer JULIE FIELDS, Staff Writer The Record (Bergen County, NJ) 11-26-1999 UNION CITY OFFICIALS SAY MENINGITIS APPEARS ISOLATED, UNLIKELY TO — SPREAD see here symptoms of meningitis
By JULIE FIELDS, Staff Writer Date: 11-26-1999, Friday Section: NEWS Edition: All Editions — Two Star B, Two Star P, One Star B
Union City officials on Thursday reassured residents that the death of a 60-year-old day-care worker from meningitis this week was unlikely to lead to an outbreak of infection.
The woman, whose name was not released, died Tuesday night at Jersey City Medical Center. An autopsy on Wednesday revealed that the cause was meningococcal meningitis, a bacterial infection in the tissue covering the brain or spinal cord, police and hospital officials said.
The bacteria can spread from person to person through close contact, but so far there has been no sign of additional cases.
“We just believe this was one isolated incident,” said Union City Health Officer Richard Censullo.
At a midday news conference, city officials announced that they had alerted parents of the 250 or so children who attend the day-care center at 209 47th St., along with other employees. The center was also cleaned and sanitized.
As a result, 35 adults and children were examined at hospitals, but none were found to have symptoms of meningitis. At Jersey City Medical Center, 25 health-care workers who treated the woman took antibiotics as a precaution.
The first symptoms of meningococcal meningitis usually appear within three or four days after exposure, and they resemble a bad cold.
A stiff neck, severe headaches, irritability, and restlessness are common symptoms. Others include fever, nausea, and vomiting. Most patients recover if treated early with antibiotics. see here symptoms of meningitis
Sixty meningococcal infections were reported in New Jersey in 1998, and there have been 42 so far this year, according to the state Department of Health and Senior Services.
Because symptoms typically appear within a few days, it is unlikely that any cases related to the woman’s death will appear now, Censullo said.
However, parents should consult their pediatrician or have their children examined at a hospital if they experience the symptoms of meningitis. Union City parents with questions about meningitis also may visit a city-sponsored clinic today at the health center on 31st Street.
