Health officials now confirm bacterial meningitis killed a northwest Iowa teen this week. 18-year-old Jacob Dreier, a senior at Aurelia High School, died on Monday. School superintendent Tom Vint says the boy’s illness came on very quickly.
Vint says Dreier’s parents say he had flu-like symptoms most of the weekend and spent of the weekend at home. His condition deteriorated on Sunday and the rescue unit was called early Monday morning and he died a few hours later.
Vint says he’s been in contact with county and state health officials. They’re trying to determine who might have had close contact with the student in recent days and encourage them to visit a physician and perhaps get a prescription for antibiotics.
Vint says grief counselors and local clergy are helping students cope with Dreier’s death. He says Dreier was well liked and took part in several extracurricular activities including football and music.