Avoiding Meningitis

10/9/2012 (Updated 11:07:33 PM)

(Source: Fox 40 Staff)

A recent national outbreak of meningitis which spread across nine states and claimed eight lives has many wondering what to do to avoid the disease.

This specific outbreak is not spread from person to person, but rather from an injection from a steroid that's used for spine ailments.

As of right now, there have been no reported cases in New York.

"The meninges are some membranes that surround your brain and spinal cord that contain some fluid, and your brain and spinal cord sort of float inside this fluid," said Christopher Ryan the Medical Director of Broome County Health Department.

"And if these membranes or fluids get inflamed we call it Menigitis. People have unfortunately died from this so it can be a serious infected." 

Symptoms of meningitis include headaches, fever, stiff neck, and in some cases, vomiting.