UPPER DARBY, Pa. -- Parents in one local community are concerned that their children may have been exposed to meningitis.

A student at Upper Darby High School is the latest person believed to have died from the contagious infection. About 10 percent of people have the meningitis bacteria living in the backs of their throats and in their noses. Most people never even know it. But for others who are exposed to the germ, it develops into a deadly infection. Health officials believe that may be what happened when a teenage girl from Delaware County died last weekend.

Ava Burton was a 16-year-old junior at Upper Darby High School. Those who knew her said the friendly teenager spent most of her time at the local YMCA after school as a member of the teen leaders program.

"She was very active, very well respected. She was voted secretary this year. She participated and volunteered in activities for events like teen dances and teen nights. She did all of that. She was a wonderful child," said Michael Ranck, the chief operating officer at the Community Y of Eastern Delaware County.

Parents have been calling the YMCA, concerned that meningitis germs are there and it might be risky to their children. The building is cleaned and disinfected as usual, even though doctors say casual contact does not pose a significant risk.

Upper Darby High School officials sent a letter home to notify parents of the suspected meningitis case. A statement from the Pennsylvania Department of Health was included, which said: "The department has investigated this case and has determined that your child does not require treatment (antibiotics)." Still, parents are concerned.

"I believe every child should be protected, and I just don't think they're doing that," said Michelle Murray, a parent from the Drexel Hill area.

"I will be calling my own doctor to see if he should be having antibiotics," said Debbie Keppler, a parent from Upper Darby.

Dr. Robert Bettiker is an infectious disease specialist at Bryn Mawr Hospital.

"The risk of transmission of the bacteria is very very minimal. You have to be extremely close to the person -- such as kissing, close household contact. Simply attending the same classroom as the patient, is not going to put you at high risk. If given antibiotics early in the course of meningitis, people can be cured," Bettiker said.

The early symptoms of meningitis include a high fever, extreme headache, sensitivity to light and a stiff neck. Call your doctor immediately if your child shows these signs.