A Carroll County third grader has died after contracting a form of bacterial meningitis, according to Channel 2 Action News.
Scarlett Marie Tanner, 8, died around 7:30 p.m. Friday at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston.
Her illness was diagnosed as strep pneumonia meningitis. Public health officials say it is not contagious or a threat to other students or school staff at Providence Elementary School in Temple, where Tanner attended classes.
“There is no potential risk for when the children go back on Tuesday for them to then be exposed to it,” said Dr. Vaughnette Jones.
Jones explained symptoms of meningitis as stiff neck, high fever, headaches and not being coherent.
“When the strep pneumonia gets around the brain stem into the brain, that’s when you have the meningitis,” she told the station.
Jones said the only way for someone to contract the illness would be by “sharing something that was actually in her mouth.”
“If that didn’t happen, you’re not at risk for catching what she has,” she said.
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