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Health fears keep R.I. students home

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published January 5, 2007

CRANSTON, R.I. - Rhode Island officials canceled school Thursday and Friday for more than 20,000 students because of a suspected case of meningitis and the death of a second-grader from encephalitis.

Health experts are trying to determine whether the cases are connected. Both diseases can develop from pneumonia.

"Given the parents' concerns and our concerns, we felt that out of abundance of caution we would keep schools closed for the next two days," said Dr. David Gifford, state public health director.

In addition, the Catholic Diocese of Providence closed eight schools with a combined 2,600 students as a precaution. No cases of meningitis or encephalitis have been reported among the students, said diocese spokesman Michael Guilfoyle.

The case of suspected meningitis was reported Wednesday in an unidentified student in Coventry. Also, two weeks ago, Dylan Gleavey, a Warwick elementary school student, died of encephalitis. A classmate of hers and a girl at a West Warwick school also contracted encephalitis but have recovered.

Meningitis is a dangerous inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord. Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain.

Health investigators said they will spend the next few days talking to school nurses and looking for possible additional cases in hospitals.

The school closings affected students in three communities south of Providence: 11,500 in Warwick; 6,000 in Coventry; and 4,000 in West Warwick. The three communities have had an unusually high incidence of pneumonia, Gifford said.

[Last modified January 5, 2007, 00:50:28]