Seminar on meningitis planned in wake of Athens High School student’s death

A lunch and learn seminar on meningitis, the disease that killed a 15-year-old Athens High School student last month, is scheduled next week at Waddell Center Family Medicine, a clinic of Athens-Limestone Hospital.

The seminar, Meningitis Facts, is being presented by the hospital and Waddell Center at noon Thursday, Jan. 24.

Dr. Noved Hason and Dr. Valerie Wright will lead the discussion. Lunch will be provided. Cost is $5.

Jessica Elkins, a freshman cheerleader at AHS, died at Birmingham Children’s Hospital five days after falling ill during semester exams. The teenager succumbed to bacterial meningitis and pneumonia, medical experts said.

Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and the spinal cord.

Its symptoms can be similar to those of the common flu. Bacterial meningitis can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated early, according to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. Vaccinations are available for some types of the illness.

A fund has been created to help Talbot and Michelle Elkins of Athens defray medical expenses incurred before their daughter’s death Dec. 26, 2007, said Terrell McCormick, who attends First Baptist Church with Jessica’s parents. Those interested my donate to the Jessica Elkins Fund at any branch of Redstone Federal Credit Union.

Source:www.enewscourier.com