Boardman man contracts viral meningitis

BOARDMAN -- A Boardman man has been diagnosed with viral meningitis, but it is a different strain of the disease that killed two West Branch High School students earlier this year.
The name, occupation and condition of the man were not available at press time. However, Linda Ewing, deputy director of nursing for the Mahoning County Board of Health, stressed that the viral strain of the disease is not typically fatal.
The strain of the disease that killed the two students was caused by bacteria. The strain contracted by the Boardman man was caused by a virus.
Ewing said that about one case of viral meningitis is reported in Mahoning County each month.
"We have these all year long," Ewing said. "This is a very sporadic case."
Treatment depends on the type of virus that causes the disease. The type contracted by the Boardman man is not yet known.
Symptoms of viral meningitis include fever, headache, stiff neck, abdominal pain, nausea and possible rash. Symptoms generally subside rapidly with treatment.
The viral strain of the disease is spread through contact with bodily fluids or fecal matter.
With treatment, the symptoms of the viral strain of the disease can subside within 10 days.