NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk Sheriff's Office said in a statement that an inmate at Norfolk City Jail tested positive for bacterial meningitis on Friday, March 8.
The inmate was booked in the Norfolk City Jail a week prior and was placed in a cell block with other inmates.
After testing positive, the inmate died in the hospital and did not return to the jail.
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Staff said they took immediate action by initiating quarantine protocol and giving antibiotics to those who came in contact with the inmate.
We contacted the Norfolk Sheriff's Office to find out what their cleaning procedures are to prevent the spread of viruses and diseases.
They declined on-camera request and referred us to the Virginia Department of Health.
The jail says they identified anyone near the infected inmate and put in place quarantine protocols.
Dr. Douglas Mitchell from CHKD says the spread of bacterial meningitis differs from the spread of other respiratory illnesses like flu or covid.
"If someone had flu or COVID, they would be contagious just being in the same room as you," said Dr. Mitchell. "Bacterial meningitis requires more direct contact like sharing drinks, sharing straws, and kissing. You can get it through direct contact that you get more in a family setting than you would in a school setting
Bacterial meningitis is contagious and Virginia Health officials have been responding to a statewide disease outbreak since June 2022.
On Monday, Francis Asbury Elementary School families were informed that a student died from a strain of meningitis called Group A Strep.
Dr. Mitchell says this strain is a fairly common bacteria and is the cause of strep throat.
However, last year doctors noticed an invasive form of this illness emerge.
"Group A Strep Meningitis is one of those invasive group step infections. They are very rare, not common at all but you can get the more invasive infections with group a strep typically skin infections can also go into the blood or it can result in meningitis," said Dr. Mitchell.
Dr. Mitchell says there is no vaccine right now for Group A Strep.
"Typically that's the one given at 11 years of age required in Virginia before they enter seventh grade. Then there's another dose of that same vaccine given at 16 years of age. That covers 4 different strains of meningococcus and then there's another vaccine we give to cover a fifth strain," explained Dr. Mitchell.
