HOUSTON -- While parents of Paul Revere Middle School students received a somber phone message that an eighth-grader had passed away after a bout with meningitis, the city of Houston's health department readied its response Saturday, KPRC Local 2 reported.

The health department plans to treat the case as if it's the more deadly and contagious bacterial form of the disease.

Health officials said they don't want to delay, because they know a swift response is key.

"We're in a good time frame," spokeswoman Kathy Barton said. "Right now, we're identifying the other students who may need it, and then on Monday we will give them the antibiotics."

In addition to students who may have come in direct contact with the 13-year-old girl, health officials said they may also treat teachers and the student's bus driver, just as a precaution.

"It's not highly communicable," Barton said. "It really does require very close face-to-face contact or sharing of eating utensils or sharing of food."

Symptoms for meningitis may include fever, headache, abnormal drowsiness, stiff neck and back, nausea, vomiting and there may or may not be a rash.

Health officials said parents should not panic.

"If we were to see a cluster of cases though, that would be a serious situation," Barton said. "But we haven't seen a cluster in many years."