Anyone who attended a “rave” party last Saturday near Vantage in Kittitas County should see a health-care provider immediately, Grant County health officials said today.

Officials say a 17-year-old King County teen may have contracted a case of meningitis at the party, which was called Operation APEX ‘09.

The teen is hospitalized in stable condition. But up to 12 percent of meningitis infections are fatal even with antibiotic treatment.
Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, intense headache, stiff neck and a rash.

The illness occurs suddenly and is spread by direct and close contact with nasal or throat secretions of a carrier or ill person.

-- Leah Beth Ward

This story was updated to note the party took place near Vantage.