A Paterson man who died Monday after a frantic visit to police headquarters, and whose death has sparked outrage in the city, had bacterial meningitis, a potentially deadly infection, the city's mayor said.

Andre Sayegh said he learned about Jameek Lowery's likely condition Wednesday night.

"It's a serious concern, because many people have come into contact with him," Sayegh said. "I urge anyone who has come in close contact with him to go to the hospital immediately."

On Thursday, Sayegh's office said that, because the mayor had interacted with Lowery at a Paterson restaurant in late December, Sayegh had sought testing for meningitis on Wednesday evening. The mayor was administered antibiotics — "the standard method of care in this situation," his office said.

Also Thursday, the state Department of Health and the Paterson Department of Health and Human Services announced that they are jointly investigating "a suspected case of invasive bacterial meningitis." That case is Lowery's, officials told the Paterson Press.

Lowery, a 27-year-old father of three, came into contact with several people, including Paterson police, in the days leading up to his death.

Meningitis is contagious. It is an “infection of the fluid and membranes around the brain and spinal cord” and “can spread rapidly through the body,” according to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center website. The Los Angeles-based hospital says that without treatment it “can be fatal within 24 hours.”

Officials at the Mayo Clinic say symptoms for meningitis may be similar to the flu and can include high fever, nausea and seizures.

Lowery said in a 911 call that he had ingested ecstasy, and he ended up on life support Saturday after livestreaming on Facebook Live at police headquarters. Since Lowery's death, family members have said they believe he was beaten by police officers. Authorities said hospital records show no evidence of trauma to his body. The cause of death has not been released.

Protests continued Wednesday, and a community leader said they would last until answers were given for Lowery's cause of death.

"It's a crisis, and as a leader, I plan to manage through it," Sayegh said.

More on Lowery's death

Original story:Man dies in hospital days after recording frantic visit to police

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