Sixth Grader Died From Uncommon Type Of Bacterial Meningitis

Acting Medical Director Dr. Anil Vaidian of the Rockland County Health Department said on Friday that a second round of testing showed Chrissy Gabriel of Spring Valley had Streptococcus.  He said although it is a common form of strep typically found in mouth or upper respiratory tract infections, it traveled through her body quickly and fatally. 

“We can’t tell you specifically ‘this is what happened’,” he said. “I think everything that could have been done was done.”

Gabriel died on Saturday, March 30 of bacterial meningitis. The county medical examiner conducted an autopsy on the 12-year-old girl the next day. After the autopsy was completed, the health department alerted 33 people who had come into close contact with the sixth grade student at St. Gregory Barbarigo School in Garnerville and offered them antibiotics.

“We’re confident it’s bacterial meningitis,” Dr. Vaidian said. “We’re confident it’s not meningococcal. This particular strep is not a very common cause of bacterial meningitis.”

Dr. Vaidian said the organism is not one that can be transferred from person to person. Further testing is underway and final results are expected this week.