2nd soldier at Leonard Wood dies of meningitis

[unhappycamper]

2nd soldier at Leonard Wood dies of meningitis
By Jim Salter - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Feb 17, 2009 21:08:47 EST

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo.— A second soldier stationed at the Army’s Fort Leonard Wood has died of meningitis, officials said Tuesday.

Army officials said Pvt. Randy Stabnick, 28, of South Bend, Ind., died Tuesday at a hospital in Springfield.

A 23-year-old soldier from Alabama stationed at the base died Feb. 9. His name and hometown were not released at his family’s request.

Both soldiers were members of the 1st Engineering Brigade of the 554th Engineers Battalion, said Col. Tommy Mize, commander of the brigade. They lived on the same floor in the same barracks. Both were in training to become heavy equipment operators.

At a news conference, officials at the base said the deaths were both the result of pneumococcal meningitis, a bacterial strain of the disease. While the base’s chief medical officer, Lt. Col. John Lowery, said there was no concern of an outbreak over a strain of meningitis he characterized as “non-contagious.” He admitted officials were puzzled that two soldiers died within days of each other from the same disease.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_meningitis_leonard_wood_021709/%2e