Vaccinations can also be obtained from private physicians, he said. Although the vaccine is readily available, many doctors do not keep it in stock and may need several days to order it, McBride said. He said the cutoff ages of 2 and 24 were chosen because the vaccine is not effective for children younger than 2 and those older than 24 are less likely to develop the disease. Of the confirmed cases in Montgomery County since Oct. 1, five were in Conroe, four in New Caney-Porter, one in Spring and one in Magnolia. Cowan said fear of the disease had caused several high schools to delay basketball games with the New Caney team until they learned more about the outbreak.
Absenteeism also is up, with a number of parents keeping healthy children home.
But Dr. Tobias Samo, infectious disease specialist at Methodist Hospital, said normal school conditions do not increase risk of the disease. The risk of infection is normally very low and is commonly associated with close living, such as a military barracks or a school dormitory, Samo said. He said the disease cannot be contracted from being in the same car or same room with a carrier. The illness is caused by Neisseria meningitidis , a bacterium spread by sneezing or coughing directly into the face, kissing, sharing eating or drinking utensils, or allowing saliva or respiratory droplets from a carrier to enter the mouth or nose. She said the student went home after second period last Thursday because he felt achy.