The Londonderry School District sent a letter to parents last week informing them that one of the District’s bus drivers is being treated for Viral Meningitis.
“We have been advised by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) that there is no public health issue at this time,” Superintendent Nate Greenberg told parents in the letter. “In an ongoing effort to maintain the health of our students, we ask that you work with us in being alert for symptoms in your child.”
“We send a letter out any time we get information about a staff member so our parents can just be aware we have a person being treated for Meningitis,” Pupil Services Director Kim Carpinone said.
The bus driver drives runs to Londonderry High School, Londonderry Middle School, North Elementary School and Moose Hill School.
As of May 13, the District had not received any reports of students experiencing symptoms of Meningitis, according to Carpinone.
Meningitis is an inflammation of the tissue and fluid surrounding a person’s spinal cord and brain. The most common infectious causes are viruses, including enteroviruses, herpes viruses and arboviruses, like West Lyme Virus, according to a fact sheet from the DHHS.
Even if the virus is contracted from an infected person, there is only a small chance of it developing into meningitis.
“Also, Viral Meningitis is very different from Bacterial Meningitis,” Carpinone noted.
Greenberg’s letter to parents was posted on the Londonderry Mom’s Facebook Page, where one parent said she was grateful the District was quick to provide information to parents.
“Some of our kids are medically fragile so I am glad for the heads up,” Amy Smull of Londonderry wrote. “I am just grateful for the general knowledge my child has not been exposed, and if she had been, I would have been glad to know so I can keep an extra eye on her, as she has a compromised immune system.”
Greenberg wrote the District continues to work with the DHHS and that any updated information will be shared with the community as needed.
Parents were advised to remain alert for symptoms in their children.
Common symptoms of meningitis include high fever, severe headache and stiff neck. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, rash, confusion or sleepiness.
Symptoms may develop over several hours, or may take one to two days to present.
If any child begins to experience any of the symptoms of meningitis, the parent should call their health care provider immediately.
For more information about Meningitis, visit the DHHS online at HYPERLINK “http://www.dhhs.nh.gov” www.dhhs.nh.gov.