Fort Leonard Wood Soldier Dead of Meningitis

By: Associated Press

One soldier is dead of meningitis at Fort Leonard Wood and a second is “very seriously ill,” officials at the Army base in southern Missouri said. Officials released few details and did not identify either soldier.

Both cases involved noncontagious forms of meningitis, the authorities said. The two soldiers were members of the same unit, but no connection has been found between the cases.

“Although difficult to comprehend, all clinical data show these cases are unrelated and purely coincidental,” said Lt. Col. John Lowery, deputy commander for clinical services at the base.

The first soldier died after meningitis was diagnosed on Feb. 5. The second soldier is a 28-year-old who received a diagnosis of strep pneumonia leading to meningitis on Friday.

The authorities said that although the illnesses were non-contagious forms, they were “heightening awareness” of preventive measures.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Surgeon General’s Office and the Army Medical Command are reviewing the cases. Meningitis kills about 300 people in the United States each year.