Meningitis confirmed

GRASS VALLEY (4/24/03) -- Nevada County health officials confirmed Thursday three suspected cases of bacterial meningitis among children attending a 4-H program at Hennessy School last week.

Two of the children ages 7 and 8 were hospitalized for treatment. The third was given antibiotics at a county health facility, Nevada County Community Health Services Director Hank Foley said.

Altogether 37 kindergarten through third grade students were examined and provided with antibiotics. One person 18 years old was also treated, Foley said.

The first suspected case was reported about 6:30 a.m. Monday, and by 10:30 a.m. parents of all the children who might have been exposed were contacted.

Foley said he was optimistic that the contagious disease has been corralled successfully due to the quick response time.

All of the affected teachers, students and their families who might have been exposed were reportedly treated with antibiotics -- either Cipro or rifampin, for those younger than 18.

Meningitis symptoms include fever, chills, sore throat, nausea, severe headache, a stiff or painful neck and rash.

For the Sacamento Bee