Lethal Meningitis Strain Kills Two Teens

A L L I A N C E, Ohio, June 4 -- More than 10,000 people, some fearful ofcontact with their family and friends, lined up at hospitals forpreventative antibiotics after a meningitis outbreak killed twohigh school students and left a third teenager seriously ill.

As hospital workers handed out forms to those waiting in lineSunday, several people refused to use the shared pens. “I’d rather use my own,” said Pam Craft, 48.

Her 16-year-old son, Chris, said “everybody’s panicking,” but said he was not concerned because, “All of my friends are alreadyon the medication.”

Community on Edge

Stacy Young, 26, said she was worried about her 5-year-olddaughter hugging and kissing her aunt because the teenage relativeattends high school with one of the three stricken teenagers.

About 21,000 doses of the antibiotic had been distributedthrough Alliance Community Hospital and an affiliated medicalservices building by late Sunday night. About 16,000 doses weredistributed in Salem, a town 12 miles east of Alliance.

Health officials began handing out antibiotics Saturday whenChristin Van Camp, 18, of Marlington High School, was hospitalizedwith an unidentified strain of Neisseria meningitidis. She waslisted in serious condition late Sunday afternoon.

Deadly Strain

Freshman Jonathan Stauffer, 15, died May 23, and Kelly Coblentz,16, a sophomore, died May 25 after being diagnosed with identicalstrains of Neisseria meningitidis. The two may have shared a waterbottle at their Beloit West Branch High School picnic last month,Superintendent Louis Ramunno said.

The teens attend schools about 15 miles away from each other andVan Camp was at Coblentz’s funeral on Friday.

Doctors expected to know by today if all three studentscontacted the same strain of meningitis, Hostettler said. If VanCamp’s strain turns out to be identical, Alliance would likelylaunch a vaccination program.

Experts to Assess Situation