WAKEFIELD, Mass. -- A Wakefield teacher is in serious condition after contracting bacterial meningitis, school officials confirmed Sunday.

The woman, who teaches at the Galvin Middle School, remains in intensive care after being diagnosed with the illness on Thursday. School officials said the teacher was sick from school on Wednesday and quickly developed symptoms of the bacterial infection.

The middle school was cleaned and sanitized this weekend, school officials said, and 39 students who may have been exposed to the potentially deadly disease were advised to take antibiotic medication as a precaution.

Another 112 staff and faculty members were also notified of the teacher’s illness, and the school superintendent placed a reverse 911 call to parents on Sunday to advise them about the situation.

Bacterial meningitis is an infection of the tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, and symptoms generally include vomiting, fever, skin rash, moderate to severe headache, lethargy and mental confusion, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Bacterial meningitis is spread via close contact involving an exchange of saliva, and is not foodborne or spread by casual contact, such as being with an infected person in class, a residence hall or at a social gathering, according to the DPH.

PDF: Meningitis Fact Sheet

"School is perfectly safe. School will be up and running and ready to go Monday morning." - Ruth Clay, Melrose-Wakefield Health Director

Helen and Joshua Allen learned Saturday that their 11-year-old son is one of the students who came in contact with the ailing teacher.

“My husband called me and it was pretty scary,” said Helen Allen.

“They suggested to get some medication for my son ASAP,” said Joshua Allen. “I called the primary (doctor), didn’t get a hold of him, and then my wife took my son to the emergency room.”

The Allen’s son is now taking antibiotics as a precaution. Wakefield health officials said they have no reports of any new cases of bacterial meningitis.

“Secondary transmission is rare,” said Melrose-Wakefield health director Ruth Clay. “If it was a student who was on a sports team and the kids share water bottles, etc., etc., it would be more likely to be spread.”

Wakefield School Superintendent Joan Landers said the school is now sanitary and classes will resume as usual on Monday morning.

“School is perfectly safe,” advised Clay. “School will be up and running and ready to go Monday morning.”