MILTON — A Santa Rosa School Bus driver is dead from bacterial meningitis and some students may have been exposed, according to the Santa Rosa County Health Department.
The health department said students in contact with the driver are at a low risk of contracting the disease.
The department remains on heightened alert for anyone that had close contact — kissing, sharing a cigarette, sharing the same cup, spending more than eight hours in a confined area — with the bus driver.
"We're trying to hone in on individuals close to the patient," said Mary Beverly, Health Services manager. "According to the CDC, these are individuals that spend eight hours or more in close contact while they're sick."
The bus driver reportedly died in a Santa Rosa hospital on May 23. There have been no other confirmed cases of bacterial meningitis in Santa Rosa County, according to Beverly.
The school board contacted parents by automated phone call targeting families of the children who rode under the supervision of the bus driver May 24, according to Joey Harrell, assistant superintendent.
The driver bused students for Rhodes Elementary, King Middle and Milton High.
Final results surrounding the bacterial infection were not revealed until May 24, according to school board officials. The decision was made to make the call to parents late Friday night so parents could keep an eye out for symptoms.
"We did not have any evidence that there was an epidemic," Harrel said. "Once we had confirmation, we acted appropriately."
The health department has not yet tracked down where the bacterial illness originated. Beverly said meningitis has a seven to ten day incubation period..
"We're honing in on the individuals that we think are high risk," Beverly said. The best things people can do to protect themselves Beverly says is, "Keep your hands clean. Keeping the hands clean is one of the biggest things."
Symptoms of meningitis include; fever, severe headache, a very painful and stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, a rash on the chest or neck. If the signs and symptoms are exhibited, it is recommended that a physician is contacted.
