Student Diagnosed With Meningitis Attends JFK High School, Barry Tech

A student from John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore, who also attended the Nassau BOCES Barry Technical School, was diagnosed with meningitis — a contagious and dangerous infection. The diagnosis was revealed by JFK Principal Lorraine Poppe in a letter sent home to parents on Monday.

Meningitis is spread by direct contact with the nose and throat discharges of an infected person. That includes sharing food, drink, utensils, beverage containers; kissing; smoking and more. Poppe recommended that anyone who had contact with the student within 10 days prior to May 3 should talk to their doctor about getting treatment. Casual contact with the person, like in a classroom setting, is usually not enough to spread the disease.

The student, who was not named, also attended Barry Tech, a BOCES-run school in Westbury that has students from all over the county.

According to the New York State Health Department, meningitis is a bacterial infection that can cause serious blood infections and inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms usually appear three to four days after infection, but can appear as late as 10 days later. Symptoms may include sudden and high fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, red-purple skin rash, weakness and feeling very ill and light sensitivity in the eyes.

If caught early, meningitis can be treated with anti-bacterial medication. However, if it progresses, it can require hospitalization and can be fatal.

For more information about, parents of JFK students should call 516-992-1460. Parents of Barry Tech students should call 516-622-6819.

Photo: Patch