High School Football Games Canceled After Student Becomes Sick

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – A serious health scare forced school officials to postpone two high school football games.

Sacramento Unified School District says officials from Florin High School and McClatchy High School decided to postpone Thursday night's Junior Varsity and Varsity footballs games after a JV football player from McClatchy suddenly became seriously ill during class on Thursday.

That student was taken to the hospital and is listed in serious condition. Initially, there were fears that the student athlete may have contracted meningitis. But school officials say, at this time, there is no indication that is the case.

A deep cleaning team was sent to McClatchy High School overnight to clean the areas where the student had been.

While classes are going on as scheduled, officials said they didn't want to take any chances and canceled the football games.

The school district says they are monitoring the situation and if it is confirmed that the student has meningitis, students who had contact with the victim will be offered antibiotics.

The Athletic Directors at both schools are working to reschedule the game.

Symptoms of meningitis include high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, vomiting or nausea with headache, confusion or difficulty concentrating and sensitivity to light.

Meningitis can progress rapidly and cause severe complications, like brain damage, hearing loss, learning disabilities and death.