An outbreak of bacterial meningitis that killed two teenagers has residents around Alliance, Ohio, scrambling for antibiotics and avoiding public contact. Her husband is pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church, where half the congregation stayed away from Sunday services.
People are very, very scared.
Widespread fear of the bacteria has closed several schools this week, forced the postponement of graduation ceremonies last Sunday, thinned out diners and left the cineplex at Carnation Mall nearly empty for showings of Shrek and Pearl Harbor. Some people are wearing surgical masks and carrying disinfectant wipes. And Alliance resident Pam Craft declined to share the pen nurses were handing out to complete paperwork for treatment. Over the weekend, officials distributed nearly 40,000 doses of antibiotics free to residents. Nick Baird, director of the Ohio Department of Health, said officials were erring on the side of caution.