Officials with Union Public Schools in Tulsa, OK announced Monday that a school employee at James R. Darnaby Elementary School has tested positive for bacterial meningitis.

According to Darnaby Elementary Principal, Chris Reynolds in a message to parents on Apr. 4:

Parents of Darnaby Students: We were notified this morning that an employee of the Darnaby Extended Day Program (EDP) has been diagnosed with gram-positive bacterial meningitis. Please know we are notifying you in an abundance of caution as this illness is NOT characterized as highly contagious.

The district contacted the Tulsa County Health Department for their guidance.  Their epidemiologist felt it was most important to communicate this is NOT the type of meningitis associated with past cases that have been highly publicized in other districts. The employee’s contacts deemed to be most at risk (i.e., family members) have been identified and have not required treatment.

As an added precaution, custodial staff will be devoting extra time today to cleaning impacted areas.  If you have any specific questions regarding this situation, please contact me at 918-357-4333.

More information about the symptoms associated with all forms of meningitis can be found www.cdc.gov/meningitis. 

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