Lane County Public Health officials have discovered a possible link between the death of 16-year-old Mani Shimada, a student at Wellsprings Friends School, and the illness of 15-year-old Christina Norton.
Norton, a South Eugene International High School student, became seriously ill after contracting what is suspected to be bacterial meningitis, a disease that can be fatal.
Shimada and Norton may have come into contact with the disease at a punk-rock concert at the WOW Hall on Sept. 20 during the Eugene Celebration. Health officials are recommending that people who attended the event contact their doctor immediately.
“The only thing in common (between the two cases) at this point is the concert,” Melinda Kletzok, Lane County government spokeswoman, said. She added that people who joined in the mosh pit during the concert may be at a higher risk of infection.
Betsy Meredith, Lane County Public Health communicable disease nursing supervisor, said there is no confirmation that the two high school students were ever in direct contact with each other. She was quick to point out that people who did not attend the concert should not be overly concerned about contracting the disease.
Fever and headache are often the first symptoms of bacterial meningitis. The disease may also cause irritability, lethargy, loss of appetite, stiff neck, vomiting and a rash.
“Initially there are flu-like symptoms,” University Health Center Director Tom Ryan said. “But the symptoms progress rapidly, usually within a few hours. A person will get very sick, very fast.”
Ryan also stressed that people who were not in direct contact with the two high school students should not panic.
“Typically … about 10 percent of people carry the bacteria (that causes bacterial meningitis) in their throat,” Ryan said. “They aren’t sick, and don’t treat it. Eventually it clears up.”
If the bacteria does turn into bacterial meningitis, there is a 10 percent mortality rate. Only 1.5 individuals per hundred thousand per year; however, actually contract the disease.
Bacterial meningitis is typically spread from person to person by direct contact with nasal or throat secretions. The disease can be spread though the sharing of cigarettes, eating utensils, a drinking glass or a toothbrush. It can also be spread by kissing or by living in the same space as an infected individual.
The disease can be treated with an antibiotic available at the University Health Center for five dollars, and a vaccine is also available for $79.
For additional information, contact Lane County Public Health at (541) 682-4041.