DOH says no meningococcemia outbreak

Department of Health assured the public that there is no meningococcemia outbreak in CALABARZON which stands for the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.

According to DOH-Regional Director Eduardo Janairo, the death of an unnamed patient in Tanauan, Batangas recently was an isolated case. DOH is yet to confirm if the three others also died because of meningococcemia.

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According to the record, it was in September when symptoms of meningo were seen in the woman who died. The victim just returned to the Philippines last May from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Janairo said the woman would have acquired meningococcemia while she was still in Dubai and that made her a carrier.

Although the woman was already a carrier, meningo symptoms did not immediately appear on her body because she has a healthy immune system. But when her body weakened, the symptoms eventually showed up and caused her death.

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What is meningococcemia outbreak?

According to Healthline, it is a “rare infection caused by the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria, the same type of bacteria that can cause meningitis.”

WHO said, “the bacteria are transmitted from person-to-person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions from carriers. Smoking, close and prolonged contact – such as kissing, sneezing or coughing on someone, or living in close quarters with a carrier – facilitates the spread of the disease.”

Meningococcemia outbreak is only declared if its occurrence is more than what would generally be expected in a defined community, geographical area, or season.

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Also read: Polio outbreak in PH linked to Dengvaxia controversy