Okay Public Schools closed Monday for meningitis scare, back open Tuesday

OKAY, Okla. - Okay Public Schools were closed Monday after a faculty member contracted viral meningitis, Okay Superintendent David Harlow said. 

"We had an in-house crew begin sanitizing, disinfecting areas of the school and transportation," he said.

Harlow was notified this afternoon. He said a professional cleaning crew will be in the district Monday to further clean and disinfect classrooms and buses.

Harlow said he was shocked to learn that a staff member had contracted viral meningitis after the number hours spent cleaning the schools during the flu outbreak.

"We have been proactive in keeping our areas very clean and disinfected. Our custodians do a good job of that and so this was kind of a surprise that we would have any instance of a serious disease being contracted," he said."

Harlow said he did not know the condition of the staff member but said that she was hospitalized as a precaution.

Meningitis infection is characterized by a sudden onset of fever, headache, and stiff neck. It is often accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, photophobia (sensitivity to light) and altered mental status, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The symptoms of viral meningitis usually last from 7 to 10 days, and people with normal immune systems usually recover completely, according to the CDC.

The superintendent did say classes would resume Tuesday.