Health department opens phone bank for questions about meningococcal cases

Callers can dial toll-free 1-866-278-7134 from 5 to 8 p.m. this evening, as well as tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Officials from the Rogers County Health Department and Oklahoma State Department of Health are investigating a total of six cases of children who became ill this week with symptoms of meningococcal disease. Two of the children have died from the disease while four remain hospitalized.

As a preventive measure, local and state health department personnel were at the school today working with its officials to offer antibiotics to the younger children, staff and close contacts with the cases. Health department personnel will return to the school tomorrow to continue providing the antibiotics. Parental consent is required.

Public health officials stress that the general public is not at risk. Only those who have had close, personal contact to a person with a meningococcal infection have a slightly increased risk of developing the disease.

Sixteen cases of meningococcal disease were reported in Oklahoma during 2009 with one death. Thus far in 2010, besides the cases connected to the current investigation, five cases were reported with one death.