Meningitis Case Found In Seattle Homeless Shelter

SEATTLE, WA - King County health officials have confirmed a case of bacterial meningitis in a homeless man who was staying at a Seattle shelter. The risk of a larger outbreak of the potentially fatal disease is low, health officials say, because meningitis is relatively hard to spread.

Tests confirmed the meningitis case on March 18. Meningitis spreads through direct contact with infected saliva or respiratory droplets, according to health officials. Meningitis does not spread as easily as cold or flu viruses.

The disease can cause swelling of the brain and spinal cord, which can lean to long-term nervous system damage. King County Public Health is investigating whether any other shelter residents might have contracted the disease.

“At this time we have a single case of meningitis, not an outbreak, and the risk to the public is low,” said King County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin in a press release. “We are taking steps to provide treatment for people who had close contact with the case and will be prepared for additional action if other cases occur.”

The man with meningitis is recovering at a local hospital, according to health officials.

There are at least three other disease clusters in the local unsheltered community. At the end of February, health officials noted cases of strep, shigella, and trench fever, which is spread by body lice. Health officials are also monitoring several Hepatitis A cases.

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