NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — 10 On Your side worked to connect the dots and determined that a victim who died from bacterial meningitis was a former inmate of the Norfolk City Jail.
An inmate tested positive for bacterial meningitis at a local hospital on Friday, March 8. The Norfolk Sheriff’s Office and Norfolk City Jail were contacted by the Norfolk Health Department on Monday, March 11, to inform them of the test result, deputies said. The office and jail never directly confirmed that the inmate died or was tied to other meningitis cases. Instead, 10 On Your Side made the connections separately.
While at the jail, the inmate was placed in a cell block with other inmates after being booked on March 1. All the inmates and staff who may have had contact were offered a dose of antibiotic and followed quarantine protocols, deputies said. There have been no additional confirmed cases in the jail, and the quarantines were lifted.
The Norfolk Department of Health said on Thursday, March 14, that they were investigating a bacterial meningitis case.
According to the Sheriff’s office, not all the inmates and staff that were offered antibiotics took the treatment. 33 people on Staff from the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office took the medicine, while 5 refused. 54 inmates at the Norfolk City Jail took the medicine, and 5 inmates refused.
No inmates or staff have shown any symptoms, the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office told WAVY.
Bacterial meningitis is very serious and can cause tissue around your brain to swell, leading to long-term complications or death.
“The good news is there is a very effective vaccine for Neisseria Meningitis, the one that we’re referring to the adult here, in this area,” Dr. Susan Girois, Director of the Norfolk Health Department said. “It’s an effective vaccine, actually. It’s required for all of our kids in the schools, rising seventh graders and rising twelfth graders”.
Girois said bacterial meningitis while contagious, is not as easily spread as a cold or flu. Someone would have to sneeze in your face or you can get it through kissing, or sharing drinks.
It has been confirmed that a separate case of Francis Asbury Elementary School student who died from meningitis had a different strand then the one of the inmate.
WAVY-TV 10 will continue follow both stories for any developments.
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.
