COLEMAN, WI (WTAQ) – Officials in the Coleman School District canceled classes Tuesday, a day after learning from the Marinette County Health Department that an elementary school student is suspected of having viral meningitis.
“We felt there was a lot of an uncertainty with where we are at with the situation,” said school superintendent Doug Polomis. “So, as a result, we felt it was in our student’s best interest.”
Polomis says when word got out in the community and on social media especially following the recent death of Jack Natzke, a kindergartner at a private Green Bay elementary school, parents got concerned.
“You hear the words viral meningitis and the first thing you think is the unfortunate thing that happened to that young boy down in the Green Bay area,” said Polomis.
Two preschoolers who go to school in the same church, Our Savior Lutheran, were also diagnosed with the virus. They have since returned to classes.
Marinette County public health officials say they aren’t recommending any additional cleaning steps to be taken, other than normal cleaning of schools. But what officials are recommending is parents to ensure that their children are up to date on all of their vaccines.
Polomis says classes will resume as normal on Wednesday.
Health officials are planning immunization clinics for Marinette and Oconto schools. Parents are urged to check with the schools for a schedule.
Viral meningitis at Howard private school
St. John the Baptist School in Howard has notified parents of students there that one student was recently diagnosed with viral meningitis.
In an e-mail the school said a middle school student was admitted to a hospital Friday. Officials say that student was released Sunday and is recovering.
(Additional reporting from FOX 11).
