Viral meningitis outbreak closes school Thursday in Hale
Students in the Hale Area School had their Labor Day weekend vacation start a day early after three students, two in the high school and a middle school student, were confirmed to have viral meningitis. One parent and four other students have look-a-like symptoms, which prompted superintendent Rhonda Provoast to cancel classes Thursday. Provoast learned of the confirmed cases at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, and as a precautionary measure, ?for the health and safety of students and staff,? she canceled school and a home junior varsity football game against Brethren.
The students were treated at St. Joseph Health System in Tawas and are expected to make a full recovery within 10 days. Cases of viral meningitis are more common during the summer months. Someone with viral meningitis may look they have a common cold or had a bad night?s sleep. The four-day Labor Day weekend couldn?t have come at a more opportune time for school officials, who will re-evaluate the situation before school is expected to resume on Tuesday.
Hale High School is a member of the North Star League and was to play a girls? basketball conference game at Posen Tuesday, but has rescheduled the contest for September 23. The superintendent said it didn?t have anything to do with the outbreak. She said there was a glitch in the schedule.