By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

Hays Middle School has confirmed two cases of viral meningitis, causing many parents to be concerned about sending their children to the school. Those concerns are unfounded, however, as the viral form of meningitis should not be confused with the much more serious – and often deadly – bacterial meningitis.

“We have had two confirmed cases of viral meningitis this school year at the middle school,” said Mary Ann Shorman, lead nurse at Hays Middle School, in a notice sent to school staff.

“Viral meningitis is not contagious. If you have close contact with someone who has viral meningitis, you may become infected with the virus that caused that person to be sick, but you are not likely to develop meningitis as a complication of the illness,” she said.

According to the Center for Disease Control there is no specific treatment for viral meningitis in most cases. Most people who get viral meningitis completely recover on their own within seven to 10 days. However, people with meningitis caused by certain viruses such as herpesvirus and influenza, may benefit from treatment with an antiviral medication.

Meningitis is defined as inflammation of the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord and is commonly caused by non-polio enteroviruses.

While there are no vaccines for the illness the CDC offers the following tips to avoid the viruses that can cause meningitis.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after changing diapers, using the toilet, or coughing or blowing your nose.
• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact such as kissing, hugging, or sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper shirt sleeve, not your hands.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.

Symptoms of meningitis include fever, headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to bright light, sleepiness, nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite and lethargy, according to the CDC.

The full fact sheet from the CDC on viral meningitis can be found here.