Western State Hospital has resumed normal operations after a meningitis case temporarily stopped people from visiting.

Officials with the hospital learned about this case on July 17, and ended up transferring the patient to Augusta Health for a check-up.

Central Shenandoah Health Director Douglas Larsen said the patient was diagnosed with a less contagious form of the disease, and prophylactic antibiotics (medication used to prevent a disease) were not recommended by the health department.

Officials with Western State said the hospital took every precaution possible while waiting for a definitive answer.

Director of Community Services John Beghtol said there are different phases and varieties of meningitis, and fortunately it was determined that this was not one that spreads rapidly.

"Anytime you have a situation like this that, if it's the worst case scenario, it could affect other people - staff, patients and visitors. So you just do the prudent thing and close the hospital to visitors until we know it's safe for them to come in, and then take precautions within our unit," said Beghtol.

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