Carthage elementary school confirms case of Neisseria Meningitidis

An elementary school in Carthage says they have confirmed a case of Neisseria Meningitidis in one of their students.

Officials at Steadley Elementary say they were notified of the news around 2 pm Monday.

The school says they are working closely with the Jasper County Health Department and are taking necessary precautions, including a deep clean of the building and contact tracing.

The grandmother of the child posted on Facebook that the young girl was “med-flighted to St. Lous with Pneumococcal Meningitis and RSV” and that “she is septic”.

Parents of students in close contact will be contacted directly. If your child shows symptoms like fever, headache, stiff neck, rash, or anything unusual, Jasper County Health Department recommends seeking medical attention immediately.

The CDC says bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis cause meningococcal disease.

About 1 in 10 people have these bacteria in the back of their nose and throat without being ill. This is called being ‘a carrier.’ Sometimes the bacteria invade the body and cause certain illnesses, which are known as meningococcal disease.