MENINGOCOCCAL OUTBREAK Families dispute tie between students

Authorities have suggested that the disease could have been passed through sharing a water bottle at a school picnic.
STAFF/WIRE REPORT
BELOIT -- Many West Branch High School teachers who left the building Wednesday carried bouquets of flowers along with their books and supplies.
The flowers, one teacher said, were tokens of thanks from grateful students who were at school to return textbooks, clean out lockers and say their summer goodbyes.
Today was to have been the last scheduled day of classes for students, but the school year ended abruptly May 25 just before a meningococcal outbreak claimed the lives of two students over the Memorial Day weekend.
Kelly Coblentz, 15, died May 28, two days after the death of Jonathan Stauffer, also 15.
Transmission: Both had attended a school picnic, and authorities have said the infection could have been passed by sharing a water bottle.
But Jonathan's brother Chris, 18, told The Associated Press, "Jon and Kelly didn't know each other."
Diane Stauffer, Jonathan's mother, said people are looking for someone to blame for the outbreak. "They're not going to blame [Jonathan]," she said. "They can't."
Officials insist that the only way to contract the bacteria is through saliva or mucus. But they also admit that they do not yet know -- and may never know -- exactly how the students were infected.
On Wednesday, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that a third student, Christin VanCamp, 18, has the same type of bacteria that infected Jonathan and Kelly, though it is not certain they are from the same source.
Kelly told her parents she had not shared food or drink with Jonathan, the couple said.
The two teens probably didn't have any other close personal contact, her mother said, because they were not close friends. "I don't even know for sure Kelly knew him," said Lynn Coblentz, Kelly's mother.
Reason for closing: Louis Ramunno, superintendent for West Branch schools, met with representatives of the CDC and the Ohio Department of Health, a group of about 20 people involved in dealing with the outbreak.
"They didn't want us to close," he said. "They said our building was not the problem. I chose to close because the community was uncertain about the disease and did not feel comfortable."
Now school officials are preparing for a vaccination campaign Friday in which Ramunno said more than 1,000 students and staff will receive injections. Sebring students will also be vaccinated at West Branch.
Vaccination process: Those who are to be vaccinated will go first to a screening area, where nurses will ask about allergies and other medical conditions, then move on to the band room, gymnasium and cafeteria areas, where the shots will be given.
ODH's Jay Kerry said the vaccine will be injected in the back of the arm. Doctors say that only people who have had a previous severe reaction to the vaccine should be concerned about possible medical problems.
Kerry said anyone who previously had a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine should notify nurses before being vaccinated.
Ramunno said there will also be a waiting area where people who received the vaccine can rest for a few minutes to ensure they do not have a severe reaction.
Smith Township Police Chief John Slimak said anyone with questions about the immunization program can call the department at (330) 938-2807. Police are recruiting volunteers to assist with the program and seeking donations of food or beverages to be distributed after people receive the vaccine.
An ODH spokesman in Columbus said Wednesday that state officials were planning the vaccination sessions and were also assembling a team of nurses to administer the shots.
There have been no new confirmed cases of the disease, he said.
People concerned about an outbreak of meningococcal disease in the area have flooded an ODH hot line with phone calls.
ODH officials will vaccinate 5,800 students and staff from six high schools Friday. They are Salem, Sebring, West Branch, Marlington, Alliance and St. Thomas Aquinas. The last three are in Stark County. The state is paying for the shots, which cost about $55 each.
It's thought to be Ohio's first mass vaccination against the rare but deadly meningococcal bacteria, and one of only three or four such efforts nationwide each year.
Salem High: At nearby Salem High School, where classes this week also were canceled, students and staff also were retrieving personal belongings and saying goodbye for the summer.
"We were all a little nervous, but not really worried," said junior Kim Whitman, who said she received the free dose of antibiotic last week.