On May 21, city health officials announced that there had been a small outbreak of viral meningitis cases in two city schools. Two students at Stuyvesant High School and four people at La Guardia High School of Music and Art, which is near Lincoln Center, were diagnosed.
Three more cases were later discovered at LaGuardia.
The students are all recovering, either at home or in the hospital, or back in school. Though the virus is contagious, there have been no further reported cases at Stuyvesant, according to a Health Dept. official.
Viral meningitis is a less severe form of meningitis and is generally not life threatening. Parents and students have been alerted to look out for its symptoms, such as fever, headache, stiff neck, and fatigue. Rash, sore throat and vomiting may also occur.
Each year, the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene receives reports of between 200 and 400 cases of viral meningitis, mostly in late summer and early fall.
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