Health officials are on alert for any signs of a meningitis outbreak after a student who attended a statewide agricultural event at the University of California, Davis, last week died from a possible infection.

Phillip Chism, 17, of Lemoore in Kings County was hospitalized Sunday with symptoms similar to those of bacterial meningitis. He died Tuesday at Children's Hospital in Madera County. An autopsy has been ordered and results from laboratory tests are pending, said Rene Hanavan, chief deputy coroner in Kings County.

Chism, a student at Lemoore High School, was in Davis on Friday attending the Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Field Day, an annual event hosted by the college for Future Farmers of America and 4-H high school students.

Bacterial meningitis is a contagious disease, but risk of it being transmitted - even in close contact - are low, UC Davis officials said. Anyone who may have had more than casual contact with Chism is asked to contact the Cowell Student Health Center at (530) 752-2300.