Meningitis risk low, health officials say

By Carol M. Ostrom
Seattle Times staff reporter

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Seattle-King County health officials who have attributed a 15-year-old Bothell boy's death this week to bacterial meningitis have advised at least 15 people who had close contact with him to take antibiotics.

But bacterial meningitis, though it can be swift and deadly for a small percentage of people who contract it, isn't easily transmitted in casual situations, said health officials, who are trying to allay fears of parents whose children had recent contact with Andrew "Drew" Albrecht, a football player.

"Meningococcal disease is spread by prolonged close contact," said Dr. Jo Hofmann, state epidemiologist for communicable disease. "The risk, even for people who have been in contact with this young man, is low."

Share a water bottle or a kiss, though, and the safety equation can change, say health experts. And the disease, which in early its stages can mimic the common flu, can move quickly. The time from onset of symptoms to death was about a day for the Bothell teenager.

Albrecht attended a football workout at Bothell High School on Monday night with 136 other students. From June 26 to 30, he was with the Bothell High team at a football camp at Eastern Washington University (EWU), which drew several hundred players from other teams, as well.

State Health Department spokesman Donn Moyer said an investigation showed that players from other teams at the camp didn't interact with the Bothell team, so no medical interventions were necessary for them.

Barb Richey, spokeswoman for EWU, said players attending training camps don't use water bottles, and water spigots on the field are designed so that mouth-to-spigot contact is not possible. In addition, teams are housed separately on campus.

More information The Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/meningococcal_g.htm Public Health — Seattle & King County : www.metrokc.gov/HEALTH/prevcont//menin.htm Washington State Department of Health : www.doh.wa.gov/topics/menin.htm

James Apa, spokesman for Public Health — Seattle & King County, said the kind of "close contact" necessary to spread bacterial meningitis includes sharing a drinking glass or utensil, kissing or sneezing directly onto someone else.

Meningitis Q & A Q: What is bacterial meningitis? A: A bacterial infection and inflammation of the fluid and membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Q: What are the symptoms? A: Sudden high fever (102 degrees or more), chills, severe headache, difficulty breathing, stiff neck and joints, vomiting, extreme sleepiness, loss of consciousness or seizures, rash or bluish-purple splotches. Q: What's the time from exposure to illness? A: From one to 10 days. Symptoms can come on suddenly, or take one or two days to develop. Q: Is it contagious? A: Yes, but not as contagious as a cold or flu. It is transmitted through direct contact with oral or respiratory secretions. Q: What's the best way to prevent getting or spreading meningitis? A: Don't share water bottles, eating utensils, lipsticks or other similar items, and thoroughly wash hands after sneezing, coughing or using the restroom. Sources: Public Health — Seattle & King County, MayoClinic.com, Centers for Disease Control and Washington State Department of Health

Even people who have such contact have a low risk of developing the disease, Apa said, but to be safe, the department recommends prophylactic antibiotics.

Dr. Vincent Hsu, a medical epidemiologist with the Seattle-King County health agency, said the risk is about 1 in 250 that the disease would be contracted by an untreated household member of others in close contact with someone infected. The highest rate of infection is in children younger than age 1, he said.

Typically, the state sees about 100 cases of bacterial meningitis per year, officials said, with from 10 to 30 of those in King County. About 5 to 10 percent of those who develop serious illness die.

Last year, five King County residents contracted bacterial meningitis, and two died. So far, 10 cases have been reported in the county this year. Albrecht's is the first death.

Even when not fatal, the disease can cause brain damage, hearing loss or learning disability if not treated promptly.

Bacterial meningitis is typically a much more serious disease than viral meningitis, which often clears up on its own.

In general, meningitis refers to an infection and inflammation of the cerebrospinal fluid and membranes (meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Several different types of bacteria can cause acute bacterial meningitis. The one that is said to be responsible for Albrecht's death is called Neisseria meningitidis, also known as meningococcus.

Carol M. Ostrom: 206-464-2249 or costrom@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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