The Bridgewater Department of Health, in conjunction with NJDHSS, is looking to identify two female Good Samaritans who attempted mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on a 1-year old child at the Costco in Bridgewater, NJ on Friday, July 7, 2006, at approximately 6pm.  

The 1-year old child died of probable meningococcal disease and might have posed an infectious disease risk to these Good Samaritans. 

The two Good Samaritans are encouraged to contact the Bridgewater Health Department immediately and to seek medical evaluation from their health care providers as soon as possible. 

The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services emphasizes that there is no threat to the general public, and that meningococcal disease is transmitted only through direct close contact with saliva or nasal discharge.

Please contact either the Bridgewater Department of Health at 908-725-5750 or 908-722-4111, or the NJDHSS Communicable Disease Service at 609-588-7500 (M-F 8am-5pm) or 609-392-2020 after hours.

Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection. The most prominent symptom of meningococcal invasive disease is a stiff neck. However, this is usually preceded by other symptoms including fever, nausea, vomiting, headache and irritability. Symptoms usually begin within 3 to 4 days after exposure to the meningococcal bacteria, but onset may vary from as early as 2 to as late as 10 days.  For more information on meningococcal disease visit http://nj.gov/health/cd/f_mening.htm.