DoH warns public vs meningococcemia
Credit to Author: Jerry Hernandez| Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2019 16:33:04 +0000
THE Department of Health (DoH) issued a warning to the public against meningococcemia, citing 16 deaths in Central Luzon alone from January to November 11.
Regional Director Cesar Cassion said meningococcemia bacteria could spread from person-to-person through respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, kissing, or sharing foods, drinks and utensils with an infected person.
Meningococcemia is an acute and potentially life-threatening bacterial infection of the bloodstream caused by Neisseria meningitidis, the same bacteria that can cause meningitis.
Jessie Fantone, head of the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, said the agency was having difficulty in terms of prevention and control of the disease since it is “sporadic in nature and everyone can be carrier of the infection.”
“Unlike other diseases, which have prolonged exposure, its clinical course usually lasts only for a few hours or few days,” he added.
But meningococcemia can be prevented.
“Since this can be transmitted through respiratory droplet, we need to avoid crowded places, close contact with infected patients and sharing of utensils or anything that has been in the mouth of an infected person,” Fantone said.
He said cleanliness, as well as proper hand-washing and coughing etiquette were small but effective steps to prevent the spread of the communicable disease.
Proper nutrition to boost one’s immune system, regular exercise, and avoiding smoking and alcohol are also steps to prevent meningococcemia.
Signs and symptoms of the disease include fever, cough, sore throat, other respiratory symptoms, pinpoint rashes and severe skin lesions.
In severe cases, the disease may even result to death.