A health scare at a local elementary school had teachers and students concerned about the health of an elementary school teacher and themselves.
The teacher’s daughter did not want to be identified but told Channel 2’s Carol Sbarge her mother was diagnosed with a strain of bacterial meningitis.
Dr. Sabreen Jai's daughter said the long time DeKalb teacher is now recovering, but was in very critical condition last week after she became ill at Wadsworth Elementary School in Decatur.
"I couldn't ask for her to be in a better condition than she is right now considering what she was diagnosed with," her daughter said.
DeKalb County Schools said they followed county board of health protocol when they learned the teacher was sick and that there was no risk for students and staff.
"They shared that there was no risk of exposure. They gave us some steps for precaution, which included cleaning,” Dr. Vasanne Tinsley, director of student support for DeKalb County Schools, said.
Tinsley said parents and staff members would have been notified if there was the potential for exposure, but there was no danger.
"We work in close collaboration with the DeKalb Board of Health. We do have the obligation to report," Tinsley said.
Jai's daughter said infectious disease doctors told her there are more than 20 strains of the disease, and the meningitis her mother is infected with is not highly contagious.
She is grateful for a quick-thinking principal that called 911 and got her immediate medical attention.
"The doctors told her, ‘Your principal saved your life,’” Jai’s daughter said.
Channel 2 Action News contacted the DeKalb Board of Health about the scare, and they responded with a statement saying,
“The DeKalb County Board of Health's office of epidemiology and statistics is not currently investigating nor are we aware of any notifiable communicable disease at the DeKalb County school district.”
