Peck Man, 53, Has Meningitis

Sun., Jan. 19, 1997

From Staff And Wire Reports

A case of bacterial meningitis has been confirmed in a 53-year-old Peck man, North Central District Health Department officials report.

The case was confirmed Thursday in the community east of Lewiston. Close contacts of the man received antibiotics, epidemiologist Lisa Cramer said.

“We want to emphasize it’s a rare occurrence and there’s a low risk of contracting it even if you’ve been exposed,” Cramer said.

The man has both meningitis and meningococcemia, she said. Meningitis is an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. Meningococcemia is an infection of the bloodstream by the same bacteria.

This is the first reported case of the illness this year in the five-county region.

Seven confirmed cases occurred in north-central Idaho last year and one in Asotin County, Wash.

Early symptoms of the disease are flulike and may include a stiff neck and severe joint pain.

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Peck Man, 53, Has Meningitis

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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