Case of viral meningitis confirmed by principal

Maintain cleanliness, the superintendent advises.
HOWLAND -- A case of viral meningitis has been confirmed at Howland Glen Primary School.
"At Howland Glen, we will continue to remind our students to wash their hands with soap and not to share drinking cups," Edward O. Jenkins, school principal wrote parents this week. "Please remind your children to follow the same safety procedures."
In an accompanying letter, Superintendent John M. Rubesich said the Trumbull County Health Department has notified school officials that it has seen an increase in the number of reported cases of this ailment during July and August. Health officials said it is not unusual to see an increase in such cases at this time of year.
"If there's anything we can do to disinfect and sterilize, we'll do all that," Rubesich said Wednesday morning.
Rubesich said he has notified the county board of health and that the main method of preventing transmission is to maintain cleanliness.
What it is
Viral meningitis, which occurs primarily in young children, is an irritation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms generally include fever, headache, lack of appetite, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and stiff neck, and they generally go away with no permanent damage after a few days to a week.
The virus is present in bowel movements and saliva of infected persons. Only swallowing the virus infects people. The virus is most often spread through direct contact with saliva, sputum or nasal mucus, typically by shaking hands with an infected person or touching something they've handled, then rubbing one's own nose, mouth or eyes.
Precautions
Rubesich said a few simple measures can control the spread of the virus:
UWash hands thoroughly after changing a child's diaper.
UWash your hands and your children's hands thoroughly after using the toilet and before eating.
UDo not share drinking cups.
Rubesch advised those whose children have symptoms to contact their family doctors.
There's no specific treatment for this ailment, but doctors often recommend bed rest, plenty of fluids and medications to relieve fever and headache, the health department said. The illness is serious, but rarely fatal in people with normal immune systems.