Alberta Health Services has confirmed two cases of a potentially deadly form of meningitis, also known as invasive meningoccoccal disease in the city of Edmonton, over the past two weeks.

Of the two Edmontonians to contract the disease is a Grade 9 student at an Edmonton Catholic school, who Lori Nagy, spokesperson for the Edmonton Catholic Schools said is extremely sick and has been in hospital for some time, now.

However, Nagy reports the student who contracted the disease over the Christmas break is well on the road to recovery, and while the risk of other students getting infected is very low, parents have been notified about the case through letters sent to them at home.

Bacterial meningitis spreads via direct contact with the bacteria when someone infected coughs are sneezes, including passing it along by sharing food, drinks, lipstick, water bottles and kissing.

Some of the symptoms include headache, fever, and nausea, which can progress quite quicly to a severe headache, a stiff neck and skin rash.

While, people do recover, it must be considered a serious infection, as in certain cases it can prove fatal.

Meningitis occurs between two and 10 days after contact.