Health warning about severe meningitis at Okanagan high school

Parents of students at Kalamalka Secondary School in Vernon, B.C., have receiveda warning on how to prevent the spread of meningitisafter a 16-year-old student contracted a severe case of the disease.

The Interior Health authority says ateenage girl from the school is being treated in hospital. She is reportedto be in Vancouver in a medically induced coma.

• Vaccines urged after meningitis-causing disease diagnosed at Okanagan high school

"We sent out a notice letting the school know," said Dr. Karin Goodison, a medical health officer with Interior Health.

"We like to educate people about how the disease is spread and what you can do to prevent getting meningitis."

Meningitisis an infection around the lining of the brain and the spinal cord. It usually spreads through close contact including coughing, sneezing andkissing, or sharing cups and straws, a toothbrush or a cigarette.

People with symptoms includingsudden fever, severe headache, stiff neck, nausea orvomiting should seek medical attention, the warning says.

Students being immunized

"It's not a very common disease, but when we do see it, we typically see it in children, teens and young adults," said Goodison.

Interior Health isoffering its regularly scheduled immunization to Grade 9 students at KalamalkaSecondary this Thursday.

Goodison said anyone at risk should ensure their vaccination is up to date. The meningococcalquadrivalent vaccine and antibiotics arealso being offered to people who have been in close contact with the ill student, who is not being named to protect her privacy.

In November, SouthernOkanaganSecondary in Oliver urged students to get vaccinated following at least two cases of meningococcal disease, the infection that can lead to meningitis.

With files from CBC's Brady Strachan.