NYC report: 6 cases of meningitis, 3 fatal

Six cases of meningitis have been detected in New York City in the past month, three of them fatal, health officials say.

City health officials alerted doctors this week of the findings from a Dec. 20 to Jan. 17 survey. Zoe Tobin, a spokeswoman for the health department, said the average for the same period over the last 10 years amounts to four cases. She did not have figures on the average number of deaths.

Meningitis causes inflammation of the brain and spinal membranes. The disease is not highly contagious but can be spread through coughing, kissing or the sharing of utensils or cigarettes.

Symptoms include high fever, headache, stiff neck and a rash that develops quickly over two days.

The victims ranged in age from 4 to 74.