Senate Bill on Meningitis Clears House Committee

By Jennifer Mock, The Daily Oklahoman

Mar. 28–Legislation clearing a House committee Monday would require schools to tell parents about the risks of meningococcal meningitis and of vaccination possibilities.

Senate Bill 1467, by Sen. Susan Paddack, D-Ada, would require school districts to provide certain information about meningitis to parents and guardians of students in grades six through 12.

The bill directs the state Education and Health departments to work together on the best method for providing the information, including at least the causes and symptoms of meningitis, how it is spread, sources for additional information about meningitis, and the availability, effectiveness and risks of vaccination against the disease.

An Oklahoma State University student was diagnosed Wednesday with meningitis. Two other Oklahomans were diagnosed with the disease this year, including a 13-year-old Chandler girl, who died.

Meningitis is a rare inflammation of the brain and spinal cord lining caused by infection with either viruses or bacteria. Symptoms are high fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, confusion and sleepiness. They usually appear within a few days after infection. Meningitis can be fatal, especially if untreated, but is not easily spread to others.

The state averaged 24 cases of meningitis and four deaths a year from the disease between 2000 and 2005, according Health Department statistics.

The bill cleared the House Common Education Committee unanimously and goes to the full House.

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