Parents of students at Rutherford County operated school Whitworth-Buchanan Middle were notified on Thursday that an employee of the school has been diagnosed with viral meningitis. The employee has not been at the school since September 28th. A letter was sent home to parents about the incident. So far, no other cases have been reported at the school. 

Spokesperson for the county schools, James Evans, told WGNS news... The employee was diagnosed during fall break and has not been at school since then (so has not been around anyone at school for two weeks now).

Viral meningitis is NOT associated with the fungal meningitis outbreak that is in the news, which cannot be transmitted from person to person.

Viral meningitis is very different from bacterial meningitis. Many things can cause viral meningitis. It can be caused by basically any virus that decides to ³set up shop² in that area of the body, much like the cold
virus can cause just a cold or could result in pneumonia or a sinus infection.

The RCS Health Services department has put together a letter to parents to explain to them the difference between viral meningitis and other types meningitis to hopefully cut down on unfounded rumors. The letter is
attached.