SEVASTOPOL, WI -- We now know the name of the student who died from meningitis -- a bacteria causing inflammation of the spinal cord and brain.
School district leaders say 15-year-old Matthew West died Monday night, adding that his death is "devastating" their tight knit community.
Those who know West say he was a wrestler, a "fine young man, who will be remembered... for his caring, kindness, and smiles." Superintendent Linda Underwood says the district is currently working to support West's family, and classmates, who feel his loss deeply tonight.
As a mother, Kristi Wiesner says her heart's with the family, while she's left with questions.
"Yeah, it's alarming. You never know where something like this is going to happen," says Wiesner, "if it's going to happen at a party, if it's going to happen at school, if it's going to happen at a restaurant."
Wiesner read about it on social media, where Health Dept. leaders were "giving a little warning, letting us know that there was a student that passed away due to meningitis."
Door County Public Health Department Director Rhonda Kolberg sent a letter to Sevastopol and Sturgeon Bay school districts Monday for the schools to release to parents.
Meningitis was “reported in a student participating in athletic activities in which your child may have also participated,” according to the letter.
Those who have casual contact with someone infected with the bacterium “are not at risk of developing illness.”
The letter tells parents to contact their physician immediately if their child shows symptoms of any meningitis-like disease.
“There are viruses common in summer months that may also cause meningitis. Symptoms may include the sudden onset of high fever, severe headache, fatigue, lethargy, nausea and/or vomiting, stiff/rigid neck, rash, and eye sensitivity to light,” the letter says.
The Health Department says additional information on meningitis is available from the Center for Disease Control's website, www.cdc.gov/meningitis/index.html.
As a precaution, Sturgeon Bay High School leaders say they've thoroughly cleaned their weight room, and multipurpose room, which is shared by athletes from both districts.
Superintendent Underwood says staff will be available to students and families at school tomorrow, and going forward.
