AVA, Mo. -- An elementary school physical education teacher may have bacterial meningitis. The case is still being tested in a lab but the Ava School District asked parents to watch their kids for unusual fevers, headaches, stiffness or rashes.

Bacterial
meningitis is contagious but can be treated with antibiotics.

The school year in Ava ended last week.

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Here's a notice sent to the newspaper and radio station in Ava:

To Parents, Patrons, and Children at the Ava R-I School District

A teacher in the Ava Elementary School System, specifically physical education (elementary P.E. class) has been diagnosed as presumptively having (meningococcal meningitis) (meningococcal disease).

If anyone shows symptoms (fever, headache, stiff neck, and rash), the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Douglas County Health Department recommend that individuals contact the health department or your physician for guidance. Preventive treatment will help protect your child from (meningococcal meningitis) (meningococcal disease). An antibiotic called rifampin is usually used for this treatment.

All persons who were in contact should be watched. Once again anyone who has an unusual fever, headache, stiff neck, rash or any other unusual symptoms should receive immediate medical care. In some cases, meningococcal disease may progress very rapidly and lead to severe illness and even death.

If you have any additional questions, please contact your physician or the Health Department.

Sincerely,

Andrew Underwood
Superintendent
Ava R-I School District