Metro plans to disinfect 164 buses Monday night after a Metrobus driver was diagnosed with viral meningitis, a potentially fatal infection.
The transit agency is urging riders who may have been on the driver’s buses and show symptoms to visit a doctor.
The bus driver’s last shift was from 7:13 a.m. to 10:18 a.m. Friday along the 14th Street Line that runs between the L’Enfant Plaza and Takoma stations, according to Metro. The operator did not have other trips, having just returned from vacation, Metro said in a press release.
Metro took his bus out of service and is disinfecting all buses that are stationed out of the Northern bus division on Monday.
Viral meningitis is characterized by a sudden onset of fever, headache and a stiff neck. It is especially dangerous for children under age 5 or those with weakened immune systems. Many people recover completely within 7 to 10 days, though.
The bus driver was hospitalized but no additional update on his condition was available Monday afternoon due to medical privacy rules at the agency.
More information on which buses he drove and when:
The bus driver was driving on the following routes on Friday, April 20:
- Route 52, 7:13 a.m. trip from 14th & Buchanan Sts NW to L’Enfant Plaza
- Route 54, 8:03 a.m. trip from L’Enfant Plaza to 14th & Colorado Sts NW
- Route 52, 9:00 a.m. trip from 14th & Colorado Sts NW to L’Enfant Plaza
