5-year-old dies at Bloomington hospital. Coroner rules out bacterial meningitis
Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify what kind of meningitis the coroner ruled out.
A 5-year-old boy died at the Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital emergency department Friday morning, but the Monroe County coroner has ruled out bacterial meningitis. Local health officials reported Friday they were investigating whether a Rogers Elementary School student had contracted the potentially deadly infectious disease.
Monroe County Coroner Joani Stalcup said an autopsy, which was performed at noon Saturday, found "no evidence of meningococcal meningitis."
"Cause of death is still pending further tests at this time," she said via email.
Threat to public health unknown
Monroe County Health Department officials would not say Saturday whether the threat to public health was over.
Health officials: Bloomington student may have potentially deadly infectious disease
Department Administrator Lori Kelley said via email at 1:39 p.m. the department's investigation was ongoing.
"We are continuing to work with the Indiana Department of Health. I am unable to provide any further information at this time," she said.
In the email chain, Monroe County Health Officer Clark Brittain asked Kelley whether "the public health advisory / intervention is over?"
If Kelley responded to Brittain, she did not share her response with the rest of the group.
Upon further inquiry, Kelley said at 2:10 p.m., again via email, the investigation was ongoing and she had no additional information to share.
The department did not say whether the boy who died is the same whom they suspected had contracted meningitis or whether the department had found other potential cases.
Suspected case of meningitis at elementary school
On Friday, health officials said they were notifying people who had close contact with the student suspected to have contracted meningitis. People who were notified should contact their doctor right away, the department said in a news release sent out Friday evening.
Meningitis is an inflammation/swelling of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency said bacterial meningitis can be deadly and requires immediate medical attention.
Stalcup, the coroner, said she was withholding the boy's name because of his age and pending notification of classmates and extended family.
"His name will be made public Tuesday, 10/2/23, once all of the parties have been officially notified and resources are in place for his classmates," she wrote.
Boris Ladwig can be reached at bladwig@heraldt.com.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: 5-year-old dies at IU Health Bloomington Hospital
