Contact tracing begins at Eaglecrest High School after teacher dies of suspected bacterial meningitis

After two teachers died at Eaglecrest High School, one of whom died of symptoms associated with bacterial meningitis, Arapahoe County health officials are beginning contact tracing efforts to mitigate any public risk of infection.

In a letter sent to parents on Monday, the Cherry Creek School District identified the teacher who was suspected of having bacterial meningitis as ILC teacher Maddie Schmidt. The second employee was identified by the district as ILC para-educator Judith Geoffroy , but Jennifer Ludwig, director of Arapahoe County Public Health, said the health department is not investigating the second death as of a 2 p.m. Wednesday news conference.

“These tragic deaths appear to be of natural causes and are unrelated,” Gwen Hansen-Vigil, principal at Eaglecrest, said in the letter.

Public health officials are contacting anyone who may have had contact with Schmidt and giving them prophylactics to try and prevent any secondary cases.

“The health risk of the general public is low at this point,” said Chris Urbina, chief medical officer of Arapahoe County Public Health, during the news conference.

If the department can successfully prevent secondary cases with contact tracing, the risk will remain low, he said. Health officials will follow the case closely over the next few days.

Urbina said people who have been in contact with Schmidt don’t have to quarantine like for COVID-19 since the prophylactics should mitigate the risk. However, anyone who does have symptoms is encouraged to see a healthcare provider to determine their individual risk.

Ludwig said Colorado has about seven cases of bacterial meningitis per year, and the department wouldn’t call this an outbreak right now since there is only one suspected case. She said officials do not yet know how many people have come into contact with Schmidt since they are still contact tracing.

Anders Nelson, a spokesperson for Arapahoe County, said officials are still investigating where Schmidt may have contracted the disease, and they don’t yet know what strain of bacterial meningitis it may be.

Eaglecrest canceled after-school activities Tuesday and classes and activities Wednesday, but classes will resume as normal Thursday.

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