A 27-year-old student counselor at St. Francis Preparatory H.S. last week died of bacterial meningitis sending fear of contamination through the Fresh Meadows school.

Leanne Burke, a guidance counselor at St. Francis Prep, died after she took a turn for the worse while battling the disease at North Shore University Hospital, authorities said.

Health officials described symptoms of the disease as a high fever, intense headache and vomiting accompanied by a stiff neck and body rash.

Authorities said Burke appeared to be improving on Thursday evening, but her condition worsened rapidly overnight and she died shortly after 6 a.m. on January 25.

The disease often fools its victims, appearing as a bad case of the flu, authorities said. Symptoms become more severe as the disease lingers.

Officials at St. Francis Prep were unavailable for comment.

- Liz Goff