HOUSTON—Three days after a Paul Revere Middle School student died from meningitis, health officials still don’t whether it was viral or bacterial.

That say that a diagnosis has been difficult because 13-year-old Ana Cortez recently took antibiotics.

Today, as a precaution, 12 students and nine staff members were given antibiotics to fight off a bacterial infection.

They were the ones who spent the most time around the 13-year-old.

The parents 11 News spoke to believe everything is under control.

Meanwhile, grief counselors were on hand at the school Monday to help students cope with the death of a classmate.

Meningitis can be viral or bacterial.  Bacterial meningitis is contagious.

The Houston Health Department planned to treat the disease as contagious until tests are completed. 

Cortez’ classmates were shocked to learn of her death.

“She was real funny, a smart person. Never tried to put nobody down. She always tried to help you out if you were in need,” classmate Dejune Johnson said.

Meningitis vaccines are recommended for kids as young as 11 and can help prevent some of the most common forms of the disease. 

Bacterial meningitis kills about 300 Americans every year.

It killed two in Houston last year.