Oklahoma News Report

Situation Update No. 2/Oklahoma State Health Department:

Officials from the Rogers County Health Department and Oklahoma State Department of Health have now confirmed that a second child from the Oologah-Talala elementary public school has died of meningococcal disease.

State and local public health officials are now investigating six children from the area who became ill with symptoms. Laboratory testing has confirmed two cases of meningococcal disease.

As a preventive measure, local and state health department personnel have been at the school today working with school officials today to offer antibiotics to lower elementary school children, school staff, and close contacts with cases. Health department personnel will return to the school tomorrow to continue to provide the antibiotics. Parental consent is required.

Public health officials stress that the general public is not at risk. Only persons who have had close, personal contact to a person with a meningococcal infection have a slightly increased risk of developing the disease.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health has opened a phone bank to provide information to the public. Callers can dial toll-free 1-866-278-7134 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. this evening, and tomorrow, Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Meningococcal disease is caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. Many healthy people carry meningococcal bacteria in their nose and throat without any symptoms. Usually, the bacteria stay in the nose and throat for a few days and will then disappear. The bacteria are spread from person-to-person by direct contact with secretions from the nose and throat. The reason that the organism disappears in some people and produces illness in others is not clearly understood but is probably related to individual susceptibility.

Sixteen cases of meningococcal disease were reported in Oklahoma during 2009 with one death. Thus far in 2010, five cases were reported with one death. (These cases are not connected to current investigation.)

The symptoms may appear two to ten days after infection, but usually appear within three to four days. People ill with meningococcal septicemia may have fever, nausea, vomiting, and a rash. People that are ill with meningitis will have fever, intense headache, nausea, vomiting, and a stiff neck. It is important to seek care from a physician as soon as possible if these symptoms appear.

Rifampin is the antibiotic generally prescribed for those with close contact. It eliminates the bacteria from the nose and throat of persons carrying it, which may help protect contacts from developing a meningococcal infection.

For more information on meningococcal disease, visit the Oklahoma State Department of Health Web site at www.health.ok.gov and http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/about/faq.html .

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Situation Update No. 1/Oklahoma State Health Deptartment:

Officials from the Rogers County Health Department and Oklahoma State Department of Health are investigating potential cases of meningococcal disease in the Oologah-Talala elementary public school.

Four children have become ill with symptoms and one child has died. Laboratory testing has confirmed at least one case of meningococcal disease and tests are pending on the other three.

As a preventive measure, local and state health department personnel are on site working with school officials today to offer antibiotics to lower elementary school children and close contacts with cases. Parental consent will be required.

Public health officials stress that the general public is not at risk. Only persons who have had close, personal contact to a person with a meningococcal infection have a slightly increased risk of developing the disease.

Meningococcal disease is caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. Many healthy people carry meningococcal bacteria in their nose and throat without any symptoms. Usually, the bacteria stay in the nose and throat for a few days and will then disappear. The bacteria are spread from person-to-person by direct contact with secretions from the nose and throat. The reason that the organism disappears in some people and produces illness in others is not clearly understood but is probably related to individual susceptibility.

Sixteen cases of meningococcal disease were reported in Oklahoma during 2009 with one death. Thus far in 2010, five cases were reported with one death. (these cases are not connected to current investigation.)

The symptoms may appear two to ten days after infection, but usually appear within three to four days. People ill with meningococcal septicemia may have fever, nausea, vomiting, and a rash. People that are ill with meningitis will have fever, intense headache, nausea, vomiting, and a stiff neck. It is important to seek care from a physician as soon as possible if these symptoms appear.

Rifampin is the antibiotic generally prescribed for those with close contact. It eliminates the bacteria from the nose and throat of persons carrying it, which may help protect contacts from developing a meningococcal infection.

For more information on meningococcal disease, visit the Oklahoma State Department of Health Web site at www.health.ok.gov.

By Cathy Tatom

About a quarter of all vehicles on Oklahoma roads are uninsured. That drives up the cost of insurance for motorists who do have a policy. And, if an uninsured driver damages an insured driver’s vehicle, it puts the cost of putting things right on the the insured motorist.

State law requires all vehicles to have insurance to be on the roads, and for drivers to carry proof of insurance. Past efforts to enforce those laws included requiring motorists to have proof of insurance when they tag or renew the tag on vehicles. Scoff-laws skirted that by purchasing an insurance policy to get or renew a tag, then immediately letting it lapse, but carrying the proof of insurance card in case they got pulled over.

A new database lets officers in the field instantly verify whether policies are active or have lapsed. However, some departments aren’t impressed with the accuracy of information in that system. You can check to make sure your insurance company loaded your information by going to the Dept. of Public Safety’s website and clicking on “Check Your Vehicle Insurance” tab.

Another effort to get uninsured motorists off the road is a measure working its way through the legislature to let traffic cops immediately impound vehicles they pull over that don’t have insurance. I’ll have that story tonight on the Oklahoma News Report.

PUBLISHERS, STUDENTS, PROFESSORS AND COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVES.
EACH HAS A STAKE IN THE BUYING, SELLING, AND FORMATTING OF COLLEGE TEXT BOOKS. THEY ALL CAME TOGETHER IN TULSA FOR A FIRST OF A ITS KIND FACE-TO-FACE MEETING. ONE DESIGNED TO TACKLE THE TOUGH ISSUE OF WHY THE COST OF COLLEGE TEXTBOOKS IS SKY HIGH.
O-E-T-A’S CATHY TATOM REPORTS.

This story shows it’s never too early to learn to eat a good breakfast.