Medford student confirmed with meningitis

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — At least one student in the Medford School District has been sickened by bacterial meningitis, and another student may also be ill.

The Mail Tribune reports Wednesday (http://bit.ly/2gbOOfN) that the schools involved are Hedrick Middle School and Hoover Elementary School.

A news conference was scheduled for later in the day.

Jackson County Public Health officials say they are notifying parents, identifying the source of the exposure and supplying antibiotics to children who may have been exposed.

The vaccination used to fight the disease is only effective against four of the nine types of the disease.

The type of meningitis affecting the Medford students isn’t yet known.

Symptoms include headache, weakness, low blood pressure and a rash.

In small children, fever and vomiting are often the only symptoms.

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Information from: Mail Tribune, http://www.mailtribune.com/