Viral Meningitis

Fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, decreased appetite, small purplish rash, sensitivity to light, irritability, confusion and drowsiness. Symptoms usually develop 1 to 10 days after coming in contact with the virus.
Viral meningitis is contagious from 3 days after the infection starts, up to a week. It is spread by direct contact with secretions from an infected person’s nose or mouth.
It can be difficult to determine if cause is viral or bacterial as symptoms are similar, contact your health care provider.
No exclusion from school is necessary if determined by a health care provider that the individual has viral meningitis. Students can return when feeling better.

Communication Notice (recommended to be distributed if two or more cases are present)

We have been advised of a suspected case(s) of viral meningitis in our classroom/school. Parent/guardians are encouraged to watch their child for signs of viral meningitis such as fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, decreased appetite, small purplish rash, sensitivity to light, irritability, confusion and drowsiness. Exclusion from school is not required and students can return once they are feeling well.

Please contact a health care provider for treatment or 811 for advice. To find out more, check out this fact sheet on viral meningitis at: https://www.cdha.nshealth.ca/public-health/communicable-disease/fact-sheets-communicable-diseases (go to heading viral meningitis).