Officials at a care center in Sheridan said they are concerned they may have an outbreak of meningococcemia in their facility.

Recently, two people at the Sheridan Care Center have tested positive for the fast-moving infection that could be fatal if not properly treated.

A third person is showing signs of infection, but doctors said they are still a waiting lab results to confirm it.

The disease is caused by the same bacterium that causes spinal meningitis.

Sheridan Care Center officials said patients and staff have been given antibiotics to fight off any possible infection.

The Yamhill County Health Department said it has tested the home and the risk of infection is very small. They said visitors to the home are not at risk.

“They would have stopped us at the door if there had been a confirmed case they thought would have been dangerous. They’re on top of things here,” said Gerald Spees, a relative of a patient.

Meningococcal disease is spread through saliva-to-saliva contact, sneezing directly into another person’s face or more than four hours of direct face-to-face contact with an infected person.

The illness progresses rapidly and symptoms include fever above 100 degrees, a severe headache, stiff neck or a purplish rash. Anyone developing these symptoms is urged to contact health officials.

For more information on meningococcemia, visit www.co.yamhill.or.us/ph.

Care Center Recovering After Meningococcal Outbreak