HAMILTON — Following the death of an 8-year-old girl from bacterial meningitis, health officials Thursday reported no new cases but prescribed preventive antibiotics for four children who had close contact with the girl.

        Susan Irvine, a nursing administrator for the city health department, said three children who frequently visited E'Laysha Collins' Charles Street home were treated, along with one of her Harrison Elementary School classmates.

        The illness can incubate from one to 10 days, but the typical incubation period is two to three days, Ms. Irvine said.

DONATIONS SOUGHT

E'Laysha     The parents of E'Laysha Collins, 8, who died of bacterial meningitis Tuesday, say they had no insurance and need help paying funeral expenses for the girl. She was one of 10 children living in the home of Clarence Johnson and Vickie Jester on Charles Street in Hamilton.     Donations can be made to a fund in E'Laysha's name at any branch of First National Bank, said Ms. Jester, the girl's stepmother.     The family plans to make arrangements at Thomas Funeral Home in Dayton, Ohio, after collecting sufficient funds.

        E'Laysha had attended school on Monday, but fell ill Tuesday morning and stayed home. She died Tuesday night.

        Although chances of the illness spreading are thought to be low, E'Laysha's nine siblings and her parents also received the antibiotics as a precaution.

        E'Laysha's stepmother, Vickie Jester, said no one else in the family showed signs of the flulike illness Thursday.        

Concern raised

        Meanwhile, a local hospital reported seeing increased concern about bacterial meningitis. Ms. Irvine's office fielded a number of phone calls from day-care providers, physicians and citizens asking questions.

        “Fort Hamilton (hospital) had four people come in who thought they might have had it, but didn't. And the hospital had lots of phone calls,” said Gail Myers, spokeswoman for Fort Hamilton Hospital.

        Butler County Coroner Dr. Richard P. Burkhardt on Wednesday said an autopsy revealed E'Laysha died from meningococcemia, a bacterial invasion of the bloodstream and the meninges (coverings of the spinal cord and brain).        

        Although the organism that can cause this illness is common, it rarely makes people sick. Infected people can pass the bacteria through coughing or kissing, but not by casual contact, public health authorities say.

        Though rare, the disease can kill within 12 to 24 hours if untreated. It can mimic the flu, causing vomiting, fever and body aches. But a stiff, very painful neck and/or a rash are considered telltale indicators.

        Anyone with those symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.

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