There has been another apparent meningitis death in the tri-state area, WCBSTV reports. A Long Island third grader died Thursday of what is believed to be meningitis. The 8-year-old boy’s death is suspected to be the third death in three weeks from the contagious ailment.

The victim, who attended Brookhaven Primary School in Suffolk County, died within hours of being rushed to the hospital Thursday.

The boy died two weeks to the day after a high school student from Massapequa in Nassau Co. also succumbed to the illness. Days later, 27-year-old Leanne Burke, a guidance counselor at the St. Francis Prepartory School in Fresh Meadows, was diagnosed with meningitis and died in a local hospital.

The three cases are not connected.

The diagnostic tests on the Medford boy have not yet confirmed meningococcal disease, but the child’s symptoms progressed rapidly from neck and arm pain to a spiking fever, low blood presssure, high respiratory rate, and a rash — all typical symptoms of meningitis.

Those who had prolonged contact with the boy and some children who rode the bus or attended class with him were contacted last night and urged to take antibiotics.

Bacterial meningitis is a severe infection that affects the brain and spinal cord but can be treated with antibiotics. Health Department officials say while it is contagious, it is not spread through casual contact. 

The main symptoms include:

Sudden onset of fever and an intense headache
Stiff neck
Light sensitivity
Nausea
Vomiting
Rash

If you Chas VeShalom develop the symptoms, you should seek medical attention at a hospital immediately. Minutes can make a difference.

According to the health department, New York City has about 30-50 cases of bacterial meningitis each year.

(Source: CBS 2 HDTV)