Meningitis death possibly linked to Sept. 20 concert
Health officials suggest
Mani Shimada and Christina
Norton came into contact
with the disease at WOW Hall
By Ali Shaughnessy
Senior News Reporter
Lane County Public Health officials
have discovered a possible link between
the death of 16-year-old Mani Shima
da, a student at Wellsprings Friends
School, and the illness of 15-year-old
Christina Norton.
Norton, a South Eugene Internation
al High School student, became seri
ously ill after contracting what is sus
pected to be bacterial meningitis, a dis
ease that can be fatal.
Shimada and Norton may have
come into contact with the disease
at a punk-rock concert at the WOW
Hall on Sept. 20 during the Eugene
Celebration. Health officials are rec
ommending that people who at
tended the event contact their doc
tor immediately.
"The only thing in common (be
tween the two cases) at this point is the
concert" Melinda Kletzok, Lane Coun
ty government spokeswoman, said.
She added that people who joined in
the mosh pit during the concert may
be at a higher risk of infection.
Betsy Meredith, Lane County Pub
lie Health communicable disease
nursing supervisor, said there is no
confirmation that the two high
school students were ever in direct
contact with each other. She was
quick to point out that people who
did not attend the concert should
not be overly concerned about con
tracting the disease.
Fever and headache are often the
first symptoms of bacterial meningi
tis. The disease may also cause irri
tability, lethargy, loss of appetite, stiff
neck, vomiting and a rash.
"Initially there are flu-like symp
toms," University Health Center Di
rector Tom Ryan said. “But the symp
toms progress rapidly, usually within
a few hours. A person will get very
sick, very fast."
Ryan also stressed that people who
were not in direct contact with the two
high school students should not panic.
“Typically ... about 10 percent of
people carry the bacteria (that caus
es bacterial meningitis) in their
throat," Ryan said. "They aren't sick,
and don't treat it. Eventually it
clears up."
If the bacteria does turn into bacter
ial meningitis, there is a 10 percent
mortality rate. Only 1.5 individuals
per hundred thousand per year; how
ever, actually contract the disease.
Bacterial meningitis is typically
spread from person to person by di
TAX
continued from page 1
street epair projects since the tax
went into effect; portions of West
18th Avenue and Amazon Parkway
were among those projects.
Jones added that the city staff es
timated Eugene needs about $8
million to $9 million per year in
order to keep up with repair de
mands. He said city officials were
having discussions with leaders
from Lane County, Springfield and
Cottage Grove to create additional
funding sources.
In addition to the new 3-cent gas
tax in Eugene, retailers must also
pay a statewide gas tax of 24.1 cents
per gallon and a federal gas tax of
18.4 cents per gallon. Congress is
currently considering raising the
federal gas tax by 6 cents to 24.4
cents per gallon.
Even with the 3-cent increase in
price, the Chevron station located on
Coburg Road has not seen a drop in
business, according to attendant
Kevin Kelley.
"This is Coburg (Road) so it's
usually pretty busy," Kelley said.
"People are coming in all the time."
Kelley said when prices are at their
highest, customers will often buy gas
in smaller amounts.
"People will only spend $5 or $10
if the cost is high," Kelley said.
Though gas prices have begun to
drop nationwide and in Oregon,
this month Eugene holds the second
highest gasoline prices in the state at
an average $ 1.88 per gallon of regu
lar unleaded, according to the Amer
ican Automobile Association.
Medford and Ashland have the
highest prices in the state at $ 1.928
per gallon. The national average is
$ 1.637 per gallon. At $ 1.868, Ore
gon's average price is the third
highest in the nation. Hawaii and
California are ranked with the
highest and second highest prices,
respectively.
Undeclared freshman Valorie
Darling, who owns a car, was sur
prised when she learned about the
gas tax. She expressed that she did
not view it as entirely negative
news, however. She said if the city
did not have money for road re
pairs, it could drain funds from
city programs.
"Taxes are a problem, but they're
still important because without
them we could end up losing other
services," Darling said. "Oregon is
going through tough times so 1
think the tax is necessary."
Contact the senior city/
state politics reporter
at shoikeda@dailyemerald.com.
rect contact with nasal or throat se
cretions. The disease can be spread
though the sharing of cigarettes, eat
ing utensils, a drinking glass or a
toothbrush. It can also be spread by
kissing or by living in the same space
as an infected individual.
The disease can be treated with an
antibiotic available at the University
Health Center for five dollars, and a
vaccine is also available for $79.
For additional information, contact
Lane County Public Health at (541)
682-4041.
Contact the senior crime/health/
safety reporter
at alishaughnessy@dailyenierald.coni.
CAMPUS
Wednesday
Guided video tour of ocean floor, Knight Li
brary Browsing Room, 7 p.m. Craig Young,
University marine biologist and director of the
Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, will show
some of the most "unusual” deep-sea envi
ronments. Includes footage from the Gulf of
Mexico, the Arabian Sea and the Rockall
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Information and tours meeting. Collier Living
Room, 9a.m.-10a.m.
ASUO Student Senate meeting, EMU Board
Room, 7:30 p.m.-ll p.m.
noao
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Computer Lab
Recreation Room & Fitness Center
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Washer & Dryer in every apartment
Swimming Pool
Volleyball & basketball courts
Alarm Systems in each room
Bus route to campus
Roommate Matching Service
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COMMONS
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