Caution urged after gym camp worker in Rochester Hills gets bacterial meningitis

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. – State health officials are in the process of notifying the families of more than 200 children who attended a day camp at a suburban Detroit gym who may have been exposed to bacterial meningitis from an infected camp worker. 

George Miller, director of Oakland County Department of Health and Human Services said 219 children ages 5-12 may have been exposed between July 1 and 11 at the Life Time Fitness in Rochester Hills. That number changed Thursday to 213 children.

MORE: Preventing meningococcal meningitis

Miller said those who are notified should take their children to be assessed by a doctor and begin antibiotics immediately if needed. 

Local 4's Dr. Frank McGeorge said parents should be alarmed if they are told to begin antibiotics. 

“You’re not being treated for meningitis, you do not have meningitis, you are being given antibiotics so you do not get meningitis based on the exposure," McGeorge said. 

Miller says no other employees or children in question have reported symptoms or been diagnosed with bacterial meningitis.

"We are still working to get all those who had contact with the patient in question on antibiotics," Miller said.

Of the 213 children who had contact with the infected counselor, the Oakland County Health Division has made direct confirmed contact with 170 families. 

Beaumont reports 80 children were seen and given antibiotics. Crittenton saw 33.

WATCH: Doctor discusses causes, symptoms, treatment, prevention

Infected camp worker is hospitalized

The Health Department said the infected camp worker, a woman who lives in Macomb County, is the only confirmed case so far.

Kristy Malter, 21, was hospitalized this week and diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, Local 4 has learned. Her condition is deteriorating.

What is meningitis?

“The important and scary thing about meningococcal meningitis is that is it contagious, but only through close contact, meaning through saliva and respiratory secretions,” said McGeorge. 

Meningitis is a infection of the fluid that surrounds a person's spinal cord and the brain. 

It is preventable with a vaccine, which is usually given to children 11 and older. 

"So, it’s not likely that the majority of the kids in this circumstance would have been vaccinated," McGeorge said. 

Signs, symptoms to look for

According to the CDC, The symptoms include sudden onset of fever, headache, and stiff neck. There are often additional symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, photophobia (increased sensitivity to light), altered mental status (confusion).

The symptoms of meningococcal meningitis can appear quickly or over several days. Typically they develop within 3-7 days after exposure.

In newborns and infants, the classic symptoms of fever, headache, and neck stiffness may be absent or difficult to notice. The infant may appear to be slow or inactive, irritable, vomiting or feeding poorly. In young children, doctors may also look at the child’s reflexes, which can also be a sign of meningitis.

Parents or staff members who have any questions may contact Oakland County's on-call nurse from 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at 800-848-5533 or noc@oakgov.com. 

Comment from Life Time to members

"Life Time was notified today of a clinically diagnosed case of Meningococcal Disease, specifically at Life Time Fitness Rochester Hills. We are notifying you about this situation out of an abundance of caution and to ensure we openly communicate with all members.

Please be aware the Oakland County Health Division is directly contacting parents of children enrolled in the Summer Camp program who have been identified as having been potentially exposed between July 1 and July 11, 2016. The incubation period for meningococcal meningitis can range from 1 - 10 days, so it is expected that the last date symptoms may appear is July 21st.

The risk of this disease infecting others is low because there must be direct contact with saliva or nasal secretions, however, it is a serious disease."

READ: Oakland County Health Division's What you need to know about bacterial meningitis