Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges.More >> Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges.More >>
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Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges.More >> Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges.More >>
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -
The Rutherford County Board of Education sent a letter home with students at Whitworth-Buchanan Middle school Thursday, informing parents that a case of viral meningitis had been reported at the school.
A school spokesman told Nashville's News 2 a school employee was diagnosed with viral meningitis last week during fall break, and hasn't been at school since.
The letter stressed that viral meningitis is caused by a virus, and those who come in contact with someone with viral meningitis do not need to seek treatment.
For parents, the letter served to assuage fears.
"Our faculty and administration are looking out for us," Carol Sandstrom told Nashville's News 2 as she picked up her son from school. "Meningitis is a scary word, but if it was something that was a dire threat to our kids we would know that."
According to the Centers for Disease Control, viral meningitis is typically less severe than either bacterial meningitis or fungal meningitis, which has recently been linked to contaminated epidural steroid injections.
Viral meningitis can be prevented by frequent and thorough hand washing, and not sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses.
Great-grandmother Barbara Keedy believes the old adage; that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
"When you go to the bathroom wash your hands," Keedy told Nashville's News 2, "don't be kissing around and all this stuff, you know. That's where a lot of it comes in at."
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