Former Inmate of Norfolk City Jail Dies from Bacterial Meningitis
A former inmate of the Norfolk City Jail has tragically passed away from bacterial meningitis, a serious infection that can have severe consequences if not treated promptly. The inmate had tested positive for bacterial meningitis at a local hospital on March 8 and was placed in a cell block with other inmates after being booked on March 1.
Upon receiving the test results, the Norfolk Health Department contacted the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office and Norfolk City Jail on March 11 to inform them of the situation. As a precautionary measure, all inmates and staff who may have come into contact with the affected individual were offered antibiotics and followed quarantine protocols.
Fortunately, 33 staff members and 54 inmates accepted the antibiotic treatment, but 5 staff members and 5 inmates refused. Despite this, no inmates or staff have shown any symptoms of bacterial meningitis. Dr. Susan Girois of the Norfolk Health Department emphasized the importance of vaccination, stating that there is an effective vaccine for Neisseria Meningitis.
Bacterial meningitis is contagious but not as easily spread as a cold or flu. In a separate case, a student at Francis Asbury Elementary School also died from meningitis, although it was determined to be a different strain than the one contracted by the inmate. WAVY-TV 10 will continue to follow both stories for any further developments.
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