Meningitis: R'burg case confirmed
2003-08-23 18:31
Johannesburg - A Rustenburg youth has contracted meningitis, the North West health department confirmed on Saturday.
The 19-year-old pupil at Remaclana Middle School had the highly infectious meningococcal meningitis, said health spokesperson Barba Gaoganediwe.
He is in a stable condition at Rustenburg Provincial Hospital.
An outbreak response team found that the youth had come into contact with 45 people, including a three-year-old child. All of them had been given prophylactic treatment, said Gaoganediwe.
Last week the disease claimed the life of a Grade 9 pupil at Phokeng also near Rustenburg.
The department was currently distributing pamphlets which explained the symptoms and precautionary measures to prevent meningitis.
Meningococcal meningitis, a highly infectious disease, is a form of acute bacterial meningitis found all over the world. It can be transmitted when people come in close contact with each other, by oral secretions.
The symptoms include a stiff neck, severe headaches and a high fever. In South Africa there are sporadic cases throughout the year and the current increase is a seasonal one.
- SAPA