The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department is investigating a case of bacterial meningitis, just two days after a student at Marshall University was diagnosed with the same illness.
Health Department officials were notified Thursday morning that a Kanawha County resident was diagnosed with the illness and immediately began an investigation, according to a press release from the department.
Janet Briscoe, director of epidemiology and threat preparedness for the department, said officials are working closely with the Cabell-Huntington Health Department "to try to identify if there any links" between the two cases.
As of Thursday afternoon, there appeared to be no connection between them, Briscoe said.
Bacterial meningitis can be deadly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those diagnosed with the illness can die within hours without medical attention.
Permanent disabilities such as brain damage, hearing loss and learning disabilities can result from the infection, the release says.
The germs responsible for the disease are spread from person to person, but are generally not as contagious as viruses that cause the cold or flu.
Bacteria can be spread by exchanging saliva through close contact, or lengthy contact, especially if living in the same household.
Symptoms typically begin within three to seven days after exposure, and include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, rash, sleepiness, increased sensitivity to light and altered mental state, according to the CDC.
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