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| Situation Update No. 2 Ref.no.: EH-20100313-25308-USA
Situation Update No. 2
On 2010-03-23 at 04:06:15 [UTC]
Event: Epidemic Hazard
Location: USA State of Oklahoma Talala Number of Infected: 7 person(s)
Situation: State health officials are investigating a suspected case of meningococcal disease in northeastern Oklahoma, state epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley confirmed Monday. The agency also received a few reports of other suspected cases in the region, but most have been discounted, she said. "Of the cases under investigation, none have shown any possible link with the Oologah school outbreak," Bradley said. Since Jan. 1 this year, there have been seven other cases of meningococcal disease reported in Oklahoma. Those occurred before the Oologah outbreak, she said. "What this does is illuminate the fact that although meningococcal disease is a relatively rare occurrence, there is a background level of this disease in Oklahoma," she said. The state sees about 14 to 25 cases each year, most of which occur between January and March, Bradley said. Two elementary students at Oologah-Talala Public Schools died March 11 from the disease and five others were hospitalized. Only 6-year-old Jeremiah Mitchell remains in critical condition at Children's Hospital at St. Francis. |  | | | |
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