St. Joe's student dies of meningitis
by NICHOLAS J. PRIMERANO Ken-Ton Editor

A student at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute died last week of a meningitis infection, school officials are reporting.

The student, freshman Eric Pitman of Eggertsville, was 14 years old and was ill with the streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria.

The school is not releasing any other information, other than a prepared statement, as per a family request.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with our student and his family at this moment," the statement said. "He was a member of the St. Joe's community - our brother, our friend - and the concern now is helping our students and his family through this difficult time. We have been in contact with the Erie County Health Department and they have informed us that people who were in contact with the student do not need to be treated with antibiotics as a preventive measure. Infections with this type of bacteria are very common and rarely develop into meningitis. We simply ask for understanding and respect as we assist our students and the entire St. Joe's community through the grieving process."

Pitman was formerly a student at St. Gregory the Great School in Amherst, but Principal Patricia Fruend neglected to return numerous phone calls from The Bee.

Erie County Health Commissioner Anthony J. Billitier released a letter to parents on Feb. 28 describing what meningitis is and how it can be contracted:

+ Meningitis is a rare illness caused by many different bacteria and viruses.

+ Streptococcus pneumoniae is the bacteria that caused the student's illness.

+ People who have been in contact with someone diagnosed with meningitis caused by streptococcus pneumoniae do not need to be treated with antibiotics as a preventive measure.

+ Many healthy people have the bacteria streptococcus pneumoniae living in their upper respiratory tracts, even though they are not ill.

+ The bacteria, streptococcus pneumoniae can cause infections of the middle ear, sinus and blood, as well as pneumonia and rarely, meningitis.

+ Infections with this bacteria are common, however, it is rare for those infected to develop meningitis.

e-mail: nprimerano@beenews.com