Monroe officials still unsure what killed 5-year-old; say no health threat at this time

Monroe County health officials said beyond the initial suspected meningitis case it revealed last week, no additional cases have been reported, and “there is no known public health threat at this time.”

“We will continue to provide updates as more information is received,” the Monroe County Health Department said in a news release Wednesday afternoon.

The department said it was notified Friday by the Indiana Department of Health of a possible case of bacterial meningitis. The local department issued a news release Friday evening, but neglected to say that a 5-year-old boy suspected to have contracted meningitis had died more than 14 hours earlier.

The department since then has refused to answer even basic questions including whether a threat to public health existed and whether the 5-year-old student who died is the case the department was investigating for possible meningitis.

A 5-year-old boy died at the Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital emergency department Friday morning, and the Monroe County coroner has ruled out bacterial meningitis.

Previous coverage: 5-year-old dies at Bloomington hospital. Coroner rules out bacterial meningitis

The department said Wednesday that initial findings “suggested that that patient’s illness was unlikely bacterial meningitis, (but) findings did not rule out the possibility of other infections.”

Department officials including Administrator Lori Kelley have not answered questions about whether other infections have been ruled out, and, if so, which ones, and for which others the department is testing.

Seeking a cause for illness

Monroe County Coroner Joni Stalcup said via email that tests being performed include “blood and cerebral fluid cultures,” and that it takes up to a week before results are available. According to the Mount Sinai Health System, cerebral fluid cultures usually are done via spinal tap. The samples are sent to a lab and “placed in a dish that has a special substance called a culture medium. Laboratory staff then observe if bacteria, fungi, or viruses grow in the dish. Growth means there is an infection.”

Meningitis is an inflammation/swelling of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. A bacterial or viral infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord usually causes the swelling, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The agency said bacterial meningitis can be deadly and requires immediate medical attention. Viral meningitis is serious but often less severe than bacterial meningitis. People with normal immune systems who get viral meningitis usually get better on their own, the agency said.

The local health department said this week it had identified 35 people whom it considered close contacts with the initial patient and, out of an abundance of caution, asked those patients to take antibiotics, which help treat bacterial — though not viral — infections.

“No additional cases of related illness have been identified or reported,” the department said. “All other appropriate precautions have been taken, and there is no known public health threat at this time.”

Child dies at IU Health emergency department

The coroner had said Saturday afternoon that the office was investigating the death of a 5-year-old boy who died Friday morning at IU Health Bloomington Hospital Emergency Department.

An obituary posted on the website of The Funeral Chapel said Benjamin Bartalone, 5, died “after a sudden illness.”

“Benjamin was the sweetest child; he was funny, considerate, affectionate, and playful. He and his brothers were constantly getting into mischief together,” the obituary read. “Benjamin’s heart was so big, and he loved hugging and kissing his family and friends. Everywhere Benjamin went, he would make a new friend.”

Survivors include his parents, a twin brother, older brother, grandparents, great-grandparents and other family members.

“Words cannot express how much Benjamin was loved and will be missed,” the obituary read. “This world will not be the same without his sweet laugh, huge smile and beautiful, loving spirit.”

Procession past Roger Elementary School

The funeral service was scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday, and a procession was expected to drive past Rogers Elementary School. Restrictions imposed by the administration of Monroe County Community Schools Corp. caused some consternation among staff, according to emails shared with The Herald-Times.

Rogers Elementary School Principal Lisa Roberts sent an email to staff early Wednesday to report when the procession would come by the school and to say teachers and staff could come outside and “show respect.” However, she also said, “we can not take children out to do this per administration.”

The administration declined to answer what prohibitions it enacted and why, but Roberts said in an email, “Parents who wanted their student to participate came to the school and joined their child in watching the procession.”

She did not immediately respond to a follow-up email about the administration’s prohibitions or reasons for them.

Boris Ladwig can be reached at bladwig@heraldt.com.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Monroe officials say no health threat; still unsure what killed boy