Tests confirm bacterial meningitis death - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Tests confirm bacterial meningitis death

FORT MCCOY, Wis. — Test results confirm a Virginia soldier who died this week at Fort McCoy had bacterial meningitis.

Health officials had said they suspected the disease, but were waiting for tests to confirm it.

Sgt. Jonathan Forde of Vienna, Va., died Monday.

A statement from the post’s public affairs office says members of Forde’s Virginia Army National Guard unit who had close contact with him received antibiotics to prevent them from becoming ill.

About two dozen members of Forde’s unit, the 237th Engineer Company of the Virginia Army National Guard, based in West Point, were tested for the disease Monday night. The results were negative.

Most people who carry the bacteria do not become sick. But symptoms develop quickly in those who do.

The post says no other cases of bacterial meningitis have been reported there.

It’s not clear how Forde got the disease.