Published: February 06, 2008 01:49 am      

Student diagnosed with viral meningitis released from hospital

FAIRMONT — In the last year, five individuals have been diagnosed with viral meningitis in Marion County.

The most recent case came last week when Fairmont State officials announced a student had been diagnosed with the disease.

The unidentified student, a resident at Pence Hall, was released from the hospital Monday, according to Cyndee Kiger, director of nursing for the Marion County Health Department.

The student spent about five days in a hospital, she said. Because of health-privacy laws, no other information about the student has been released.

Most individuals with healthy immune systems recover from viral meningitis with no long-term effects, Kiger said.

Last April, another Pence Hall resident was diagnosed with viral meningitis. Three others, students at North Marion High, also came down with the illness last fall.

Kiger said even though this is the fifth case of viral meningitis in a year, it’s not an alarming number.

The county health department has a good relationship with public information agencies, the school system, Fairmont State, and local health providers, Kiger said. That makes it easier for everyone to communicate and get information out to the public when a case is reported, she said.

Many people who have been exposed to the virus that causes viral meningitis experience flu-like symptoms, Kiger said. The health department has also seen an increase in the number of flu cases.

She said most of the cases have been the average flu diagnosis, but three people in the county have come in with cases of type A flu, a much more virulent type.

Since the cold and flu season is in full swing, self-protection is the best way to prevent the spread of minor viruses as well as viral meningitis, Kiger said.

Avoiding large crowds, throwing away soiled tissues and staying home if you’re not feeling well are some good ways to prevent disease, but the best way is washing your hands, she said.

“The most effective method of prevention is to wash your hands thoroughly and often,” Kiger said.

If you have a child between the ages of 11 and 19, having them vaccinated for meningitis is a good idea, she said. The health department offers a free immunization clinic from 1 to 3 p.m. every Wednesday.

While the vaccine won’t prevent viral meningitis, it will protect against bacterial meningitis, the most lethal version. Kiger said the vaccine is recommended for children and teens because they frequently have close contact with many other children at school and play.

E-mail Katie Wilson at kwilson@timeswv.com.