CHINA, Texas — Hardin-Jefferson ISD announced Sunday China Elementary will be closed on Monday, November 4, due to an 'unconfirmed case of meningitis.'
The school's facilities will be professionally cleaned and disinfected, according to the district.
Other campuses will not be affected by the closure, the district said. Sour Lake Elementary, Henderson Middle School, and HJ High School will be open and on a normal schedule.
Symptoms of meningitis:
- High fever
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- May include nausea, vomiting, discomfort looking into bright lights, confusion, hallucinations and seizures.
While the germs that cause meningitis may be spread from person to person, they are not spread by casual contact or simply breathing the air where a person with meningitis has been.
Meningitis is an inflammation or swelling of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
There are two typical types of meningitis -- bacterial and viral. The district did not clarify which type the student possibly had.
Bacterial Meningitis is caused by bacteria that can be deadly and requires immediate medical attention. Vaccines are available to help protect against some kinds of bacterial meningitis, according to the CDC.
Viral meningitis is less severe than bacterial meningitis. People with normal immune systems who get viral meningitis usually get better on their own, the CDC says. There are vaccines to prevent certain kinds of viral meningitis.
To learn more about meningitis, you can visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by clicking HERE.
From a Hardin-Jefferson ISD Facebook post:
ATTENTION HJISD:
HJISD was notified this evening of an unconfirmed case of meningitis at China Elementary. For the safety of our students, China Elementary will be closed tomorrow, November 4, 2019. We are in the process of having the facilities professionally cleaned and disinfected. The health and well-being of our students is our top priority, and we are working closely with the health department. We do apologize for the inconvenience of the late notice. This does NOT affect our other campuses. Sour Lake Elementary, Henderson Middle School, and HJ High School will be open and on a normal schedule. We will keep you updated as to the re-opening of China Elementary. Please stay tuned to our social media platforms and our website for updates.
Also on 12NewsNow.com: