In TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines: Student dies of suspected meningococcemia, 6 others hospitalized August 9, 2013 10:05 am TACLOBAN CITY, Aug. 8 — Classes at the Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) main campus here was suspended Thursday after one student suspected ill with meningococcemia died and six others were hospitalized early this week. Roderick Boyd S. Cerro, Department of Health (DOH) regional sentinel nurse, said the victim, a female third year BS Hotel and Restaurant Technology student was admitted to the hospital last week for fever and rashes and died a few days after. “Doctors believe the victim could have contracted meningococcemia, but she is still considered a meningo suspect as her blood samples will still undergo laboratory testing,” Cerro said. He said the Six students are now confined in different hospitals after manifesting symptoms similar to that of meningococcemia. As a preventive measure, the DOH is doing contact tracing in the school visited by the victim and family members. The school, however, suspended its classes to prevent the disease from spreading further. University officials could not say as to when the classes would resume. Meningococcemia is an acute and potentially life-threatening infection of the blood stream caused by bacteria called Neisseria mengingitidis that frequently live in a person’s upper respiratory tract without causing visible signs of illness and can be spread from person to person through droplets. Symptoms may include fever, rashes, headache, anxiety, irritability, muscle pain and nausea. DOH records showed the latest case of meningococcemia in Eastern Visayas was in 2011 where three people died from the disease. DOH said it will conduct an information drive on meningococcemia in public schools to lessen fears and stop undue panic among the populace because of the dreaded disease. (PNA)
Posted on: Fri, 09 Aug 2013 13:06:38 +0000