Photo by Chris Rief

Metro has suspended a bus that services some of the most heavily traveled routes in the entire system after it was learned that a driver who operated the coach was diagnosed with viral meningitis.

The driver, according to a Metro press release, last worked Friday morning along the 52 and 54 routes that traverse 14th Street from downtown D.C. to 16th Street Heights in the upper reaches of the city. The affected bus will be out of service until it can be thoroughly sanitized, according to the press release. Additionally, all 164 buses kept at the “bus barn” at 14th and Buchanan streets NW will be disinfected as a precautionary measure.

According to Metro, the driver who contracted meningitis made three runs last Friday morning:

• Route 52, 7:13 a.m. trip from 14th and Buchanan streets NW to L’Enfant Plaza
• Route 54, 8:03 a.m. trip from L’Enfant Plaza to 14th Street and Colorado Avenue NW
• Route 52, 9 a.m. trip from 14th Street Colorado Avenue NW to L’Enfant Plaza

The transit agency said it does not believe the driver was exposed to any other vehicle.

Symptoms of viral meningitis, which can last between seven and 10 days, include nausea, vomiting, altered mental states and a sensitivity to light, according to the Centers for Disease Control. In infants and young children it can cause irritability and difficulty in waking up, while adults can experience severe headaches and loss of appetite. There is no specific treatment, but the CDC advises that most cases of viral meningitis pass, though more severe cases might necessitate hospitalization.