Health Officials say Probably No Link in Two N.Y. Meningitis Deaths

NEW YORK (AP/1010 WINS)  -- A type of meningitis that kills only a few hundred Americans a year has taken two lives in two days at a pair of New York high schools, but health authorities say there is probably no link between the deaths.

1010 WINS AUDIO: Steve Sandberg reports

"It could be a coincidence,'' said Dr. Don Weiss, a top infectious disease sleuth at New York City's health department. "There was nothing to suggest they had anything in common.''

The first death came Thursday, when a 17-year-old student at Massapequa High School succumbed to a fast-moving meningococcal meningitis infection just a day after falling ill.

Then on Friday, a guidance counselor at St. Francis Preparatory High School in Queens died of the same illness. The two schools are about 15 miles apart.

Both deaths prompted a rapid response from public health officials, who began giving antibiotics to friends and relatives who had close contact with the victims.

Health experts in both communities also said students and faculty at the two schools have little to fear.

Bacterial meningitis isn't spread through casual contact. Generally, a victim needs to ingest droplets of someone else's saliva. The vast majority of people who are exposed develop antibodies quickly and never get sick.

``It is not something you get passing someone in the hallway,'' said Weiss.

St. Francis Prep posted a message on its Web site Friday identifying its victim as guidance counselor LeeAnne Burke. The school sent a letter to parents urging them not to be overly alarmed, but to seek medical attention if their children developed fever, chills, a stiff neck and nausea or vomiting.

Classes for next Tuesday were canceled so people could attend Burke's funeral.

In the earlier case on Long Island, Massapequa High School senior Michael Gruber took a state Regents exam Wednesday and went to bed with flu-like symptoms. By the next morning, he was so ill he was taken to the hospital. He died later that afternoon.

``He went to bed fine, and he woke up dying,'' said his aunt, Heidi Sacco.

Gruber played on the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Youth Organization basketball team and worked part-time as a supermarket stock boy.

Charles Sulc, acting superintendent of the Massapequa School District, described the teenager as an ``excellent student'' who took advanced placement courses and was well liked.

About 300 people nationwide die of meningococcal meningitis every year, according to the state Health Department.

On the Net:

NYC Health Department: www.nyc.gov/health

Nassau County Health Department: www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/health/

Photo of Burke from St. Francis Prep's Web site

Photo of school from 1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg