Newark health department: Child with suspected meningitis was in school at height of infection

NEWARK (WABC) -- Health officials in Newark met with parents Tuesday hoping to ease fears after a student died of a suspected case of bacterial meningitis, but a change in information may do more to stoke the outcry.

The 6-year-old was a first grader at the Oliver Street school who had been out of class for 10 days before she died.

But despite the information released Monday by the New Jersey State Department of Health saying the child was not in school while potentially infectious, the Newark Department of Health announced at the meeting the child who died was at the height of infection at the time she was in class.

As a result, officials are telling parents to take their children to the doctor.

Newark Mayor Ras Barak said in a statement Tuesday morning that there were no recommendations for public action.

"We are devastated to learn of the tragic deaths of two Newark youths last week, and I join the entire City in mourning the loss of these future leaders," he said.

"We know that the residents, parents, school administrators and students are deeply concerned about this issue and we want everyone to be assured that we are doing everything possible to protect the health of our residents, especially our youngest citizens."

Grief counselors have been on hand after the deaths of two public school students in Newark, though the other instance was believed to be a suicide.

Information about bacterial meningitis is available at NJ.gov and CDC.gov.

Maintenance crews have been diligently scrubbing classrooms at the school.

"Everyone is terrified," PTO President Zee Oliveira said. "The child was so young. I know that a few parents already took their kids to the hospital just because of a little cough or cold or nausea."

Parents at Oliver have been told to keep a close eye on their kids and look for any signs or symptoms of illness.

Meanwhile, the death of a child who went to a school a few miles away remains a mystery. Eyewitness News talked to the spokesperson of the school on Sunday night, but an investigation is keeping them tight-lipped. They did say that their thoughts and prayers were with the family.

The Newark School District cannot comment because there is an ongoing police investigation regarding the death.

The two deaths are not related.

The Essex County Prosecutor's Office said it is not involved in the investigation because the deaths appear to have been from natural causes and are not considered suspicious.