Lifetime Fitness employee with bacterial meningitis in 'grave' condition
(WJBK) - UPDATE: The Lifetime Fitness employee who contracted bacterial meningitis is in grave condition, according to the Oakland County Health Department on Thursday.
George Miller, the director of Oakland County Health and Human Services, said that the young woman, now identified as Kristy Malter, is on life support, contradicting earlier reports that she had died.
Numerous sources, including Malter's high school alumni association and the Macomb County Medical Examiner, reported that she had died earlier on Thursday. Notre Dame Alumni Association's message is still posted online.
Local health officials announced her case Wednesday night, and informed the public that Malter had worked at a day camp at the Lifetime Fitness in Rochester Hills with more than 200 children. Parents of these children have been notified, and have been urged to watch for developing symptoms or to get an assessment at a care clinic or with a family doctor.
Symptoms include a sudden onset of fever, severe headache, nausea or vomiting, confusion, weakness and a stiff neck or back.
Bacterial meningitis can only be spread with nasal or oral secretions. Bacteria that cause meningitis are not as contagious as viruses that cause the common cold or flu, the CDC says.
Bacterial meningitis can be treated with a number of antibiotics. It is important that treatment be started as soon as possible.
The camp at Lifetime Fitness in which Malter worked occurred from July 1 to July 11. More than 200 children are believed to have come in contact with her. Local health officials told parents to watch for symptoms, and that the symptoms could develop any time until July 21.
Both the Oakland and Macomb county health divisions are involved with the case. Malter worked in Oakland County at the Rochester Hills gym, but she lived in Macomb County.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. You can read more about bacterial meningitis from the CDC here.
This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 2 for updates.