The Massapequa community remains in mourning over the death of Michael Gruber, a 17-year-old Massapequa High School student whose passing due to a case of Meningococcal Meningitis has been confirmed by the Nassau County Department of Health.

According to published reports, Gruber had taken a Regents exam on the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 23. After suffering from flu-like symptoms, Gruber was taken to New Island Hospital in Bethpage, where he died the next day.

Gruber was a senior who played on the St. Rose of Lima CYO basketball league and worked part time as a stock boy at the local King Kullen Supermarket on Merrick Road in Massapequa Park. According to relatives, he was a conscientious and diligent student, who was considering a career in law.

On Monday, Jan. 28, a funeral was held for Gruber, as hundreds of mourners, including immediate family members, relatives, friends, and classmates gathered at St. Rose of Lima to pay their final respects.

Gruber was eulogized by Msgr. Daniel Hurley and by his girlfriend, Tobi Rubano, who, according to published reports, lovingly remembered their time together, including wayward trips to Long Beach.

Following Gruber's death, Charles Sulc, acting superintendent of the Massapequa School District, issued a statement, noting that the Massapequa district is working very closely with the Nassau County Health Department and has taken their lead on how to proceed and address this concern.

"The Massapequa Board of Education and Administration are deeply concerned. We are terribly saddened by this tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with the family.

"The safety and well-being of all students is our number one priority," Sulc continued. "We are notifying classmates, staff and other students who we believe may have come into direct contact with this child. As a precautionary measure, custodial and maintenance staff are cleaning and sanitizing the high school and any other district facilities this student may have frequented. There have been no other cases of bacterial meningitis reported in our district."

In addition, the Health Department is notifying those individuals who have been identified as close contacts with the student and advising them of the need for preventive treatment. Persons who worked or shopped in the grocery store do not need preventive treatment nor do those who may have had casual contact in a classroom or office.

Every individual identified as having shared food, drink, eating utensils or a beverage container, such as a water bottle, or exchanged oral secretions or had any similar exposure with the student between Jan. 13 and Jan. 23, should contact his/her health care provider immediately to receive preventive antibiotic treatment, health officials added.

Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection of the bloodstream or meninges (a thick lining covering the brain and spinal cord) caused by the meningococcus germ. The disease is spread by direct close contact with nose or throat discharges of an infected person. Symptoms can include high fever, headache, vomiting, stiff neck and rash and appear most often within five days after exposure, but can appear anytime between two and 10 days. Individuals who think they have symptoms suggestive of the disease should contact their health care providers immediately.

Additional information on Meningococcal Disease may be found on the New York State Department of Health website: www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/. Information is available on the Nassau County Department of Health's information line at 571-2500.