Monroe County officials continue probe into Rogers Elementary potential exposure

Monroe County health officials are still investigating whether a Rogers Elementary School student has or had a possibly deadly infectious disease.

A 5-year-old boy died at the Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital emergency department Friday morning, and the Monroe County coroner has ruled out bacterial meningitis. However, despite repeated inquiries, Monroe County Health Department officials would not say Sunday or Monday whether the boy who died is related to the case they’re investigating.

“At this point in the investigation, initial findings have ruled out bacterial meningitis but not other serious life-threatening bacterial infections or viral meningitis,” the department said in a news release Monday. “Further tests are pending at this time.”

The health department sent out a release at 6:22 p.m. Friday, saying it was “investigating a possible case of meningitis in a Rogers Elementary student.” The release did not mention that a 5-year-old boy had died more than 14 hours earlier.

An autopsy performed on that boy on Saturday ruled out bacterial meningitis, but the health department said Monday its investigation has not ruled out viral meningitis or “other serious life-threatening bacterial infections.”

Previous coverage:5-year-old dies at Bloomington hospital. Coroner rules out bacterial meningitis

The department did not respond to questions about what diseases it was considering or when results from the additional tests would be available.

The department said Monday that “out of an abundance of caution,” it contacted people considered to be “close contacts” of the patient they’re investigating and asked those people receive antibiotics, which help against bacterial infections — but not viral infections.

Monroe County Health Department Administrator Lori Kelley said via email Monday afternoon that all 35 close contacts had taken antibiotics.

The department also said it was working with the Indiana Department of Health. The state department could not be reached Monday morning.

Meningitis is an inflammation/swelling of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

From Friday:Health officials say Bloomington student may have potentially deadly infectious disease

Meningitis caused by viruses is serious but often less severe than bacterial meningitis, according to the CDC. People with normal immune systems who get viral meningitis usually get better on their own. Even if people spread viral meningitis to another person, most people infected with the virus will not develop meningitis, the agency said. Meningitis in rare cases also can be caused by parasites, ameba and fungi.

The boy died at 4:03 a.m. Friday. IU Health could not be reached Monday morning to say whether hospital staff who treated the child took any precautions, whether any staffers have been identified as close contacts and how many, if any, took antibiotics.

Meningitis symptoms can include headache, fever, a stiff neck, feeling unwell, vomiting, sensitivity to light, confusion, aches and pains, pale skin and a rash, the local health department said.

The Monroe County Coroner’s office said it would release the boy’s name Tuesday once his classmates and extended family had been notified.

Boris Ladwig can be reached at [email protected].