County alerts of meningococcal case at Lakeridge

By Rebecca Mayer

The Lake Oswego Review, Mar 13, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

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One student case of meningococcal disease was reported at Lakeridge High School this week. Parents received a letter from the Clackamas County Community Health Division informing them of the causes and symptoms of the illness.

“It’s a reportable disease that has historically caused a lot of anxiety,” said Paul Lewis, Deputy Health Officer for the Clackamas, Washington and Multnomah counties.

The county simply wants to be sure people are informed, he said. Meningococcal is most common during the winter, and seven cases have been reported in the Portland metro area this year. Of those, one LOSD student and one adult in Clackamas County have contracted the illness.

Meningococcal spreads through contact with oral secretions of an infected person. “At this time we do not believe that students or staff at the school had sufficient exposure to be at increased risk for developing this disease,” said Lewis in the letter.

The disease is a bacterial infection of the bloodstream that can sometimes become a cause of meningitis. According to Lewis, the symptoms to watch for in people of any age include: “sudden onset of fever, headache, weakness, vomiting, stiff neck or a rash.”

If you suspect illness, contact your family’s healthcare provider promptly or seek medical attention.

If you have additional concerns regarding this disease contact Clackamas County Community Health at 503-655-8411. For more information about the disease, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Oregon Public Health websites for more information: www.cdc.gov/meningitis/bacterial/faqs.htm and www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/acd/diseases/nmenin/facts.shtml .