Jan 25, 2008 11:00 pm US/Eastern
Massapequa Community Stunned By Meningitis Death
Nassau Health Chief: Warning Signs Weren't There
MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. (CBS) ―
-
-
Michael Gruber, 17, was a senior at Massapequa High School and seemingly had his future in the palm of his hand until he was struck down by meningitis on Jan. 24.
CBS
A 17-year-old high school student died Thursday after contracting a case of meningitis.
Just two days ago, Michael Gruber, a senior at Massapequa High School, was taking midterm examinations and joking with friends when sometime on Wednesday afternoon, he came down with a fever and chills.
Early Thursday morning, Gruber awoke to vomiting and hallucinations. He apparently lost consciousness a short time later.
"His parents found him unresponsive in bed and called emergency 911," said Dr. Abby Greenberg, Nassau County Health Department Chief.
At the hospital by 9 a.m., Gruber died by 3 p.m.
Gruber's brother, Stephen, spoke briefly about his brother while his family grieved over the shocking death. "He was a good kid, we are all going to miss him. That's all I want to say right now," he said.
As stunned students coming to take Physics Regents Exams arrived at school on Friday, many wondered how they would be able to concentrate, being so upset and saddened at the sudden turn of events.
"I saw him in school. He seemed fine, he seemed normal," said Gruber's friend Mike Radigan.
Gruber had just been accepted to SUNY Albany and was an avid basketball player, playing in the Saint Rose of Lima CYO basketball league in Massapequa. He worked part time as a stock boy at the King Kullen just across the street from his school.
Meanwhile, the school district announced it is cleaning the high school and all facilities to prevent anyone else from contracting the ailment. The school had been closed to classes all week for midterms, so there was less contact than usual with the victim.
Experts say only people with close, intimate contact with Michael -- those who lived with him and shared food or drink with him for example, need to worry. A few dozen of those close contact people are getting antibiotics.
"I went to the doctor when my parents heard about it," Radigan said
Gruber's death is the first from Meningococcal meningitis in four years in Nassau County.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments