WATKINS CONTINUES TO RECOVER FROM MENINGITIS

 (CAMERON)  Cameron Elementary/Jr. High nurse Leslie Watkins continues to recover from a life-threatening case of bacterial meningitis.  Watkins was listed in fair condition Monday evening at Scott & White Hospital in Temple.
A presumptive diagnosis of the disease was issued late Friday, two days after Watkins fell ill.  Meningitis is an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, and is a contagious disease.  Prompt treatment is essential to recovery, and parents should continue to watch for symptoms in their children.  Symptoms to look for over the next couple of weeks include fever, severe headache, nauseous, vomiting, stiff neck, and/or a rash.  If not quickly treated with antibiotics, bacterial meningitis can lead to brain damage and death.

Following the presumptive diagnosis late Friday, the Milam County Health Department worked through the weekend to notify parents, teachers and staff by phone, making more than 1000 phone calls.  There are about 700 3^rd through 8^th grade students enrolled at the joint Cameron Elementary and Jr. High Campus.

In addition to the phone calls, school officials sent warning letters to parents of all students on the campus. 

School officials are unsure how many students Watkins treated in the days before she fell ill.  Bacterial meningitis has a typical incubation period of up to four to five days.  The disease is transmitted through very close contact, such as sharing eating utensils, drinking after someone, kissing, or coughing very close to someone.  So far, health officials have recommended only Watkins’ immediate family receive preventative treatment with antibiotics.

The last occurrence of bacterial meningitis in Milam County was a single case in 1996, according to the Texas Department of Health.

Two cases have recently been diagnosed in Bryan.  Two Sam Rayburn Middle School students were diagnosed with the disease two weeks ago, and have since recovered.