The Marblehead Board of Health and Marblehead High School have notified families that a student there is suspected of having the serious, infectious illness bacterial meningitis.
Meningitis can spread between people if they are in close contact with an exchange of saliva. This can happen during kissing, sharing lipstick or vapes, sharing food or utensils including cups and water bottles.
“Out of an abundance of caution and because of the high degree of suspicion for meningococcal disease, the Marblehead Board of Health has identified close contacts of the ill student and recommended they reach out to their child’s health care provider regarding preventative antibiotics. There are safe and effective antibiotics that can reduce the risk of infection in people who have had close contact with the ill person,” according to a message from the BoH.
The BoH encourages parents to take the following steps:
Monitor your child’s health carefully during the next three weeks for signs of illness including fever, headaches, stiff neck, mental confusion, lethargy, vomiting or skin rash.
If these symptoms occur, call your child’s health care provider and let them know that your child may have been in close contact with an ill person at school.
For more information, contact the BoH at 781-631-0212 or your child’s physician.
