A Mount Horeb teen died over the weekend from a case of bacterial meningitis; the second such death in Dane County this month. A 22-year-old UW-Madison student was also killed by the illness at the beginning of February.
Dane County Public Health Director Dr. Thomas Shlenker says there’s nothing linking the two cases to each other. Although such deaths are rare, Shlenker says it appears to be nothing more than a deadly coincidence.
While deaths are rare, Shlenker says the bacteria are quite common. However, it’s unusual for an infection to turn deadly and why it becomes so severe for some people is a mystery.
Those who were in close contact with the 16-year-old high school student are being given antibiotics.
AUDIO: John Colbert reports (:48)