South Florida warned about meningitis strain that has killed 4

By FRED TASKER

Miami Herald

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Miami-Dade health officials are warning residents about a rare and deadly strain of meningitis that has killed four people in South Florida and infected eight others in the past six months.

At a hastily called news conference Wednesday, county health officials advised that those with symptoms - severe headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck - see a doctor immediately or visit emergency rooms if they can't see their own doctor the same day.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2009/04/23/0423meningitis.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=76

This is what got me:

"This type is readily curable with antibiotics if it's caught in time,'' Conte said. "Unfortunately, if it's not caught in time, it's a virulent strain that can progress to serious illness and death in four to six hours.''