Beggs School Students Begin Christmas Break Early Due To Case Of Viral Meningitis

NewsOn6.com

BEGGS, Oklahoma – Beggs Public Schools in Okmulgee County has canceled class for the remainder of the week after a student was diagnosed with viral meningitis, Superintendent Cindy Swearingen said Wednesday night.

Beggs Schools will be closed Thursday, December 16, 2010, and Friday December 17, 2010.

The district emphasized the student was diagnosed with viral meningitis, not bacterial meningitis, which is far more serious.  According to the district's Facebook page, the student attends Beggs Middle School.

The district said they were canceling class as a precuation.

School officials said they plan to hold a news conference to discuss the case Thursday, December 16, at 1 p.m. at the Administration Building.

The district posted a statement on its school district web site Wednesday night:

Beggs Schools is closed Thursday, December, 16th and Friday, December 17th. We have been advised a student at BMS has been diagnosed with a strain of viral meningitis; not to be confused with the life threatening bacterial meningitis. We as a district want to take every precaution necessary to ensure the safety of our students. If any changes or further information that is pertinent to this case becomes available we will advise you. Please continue to check the website or BPS facebook page as information becomes available.