A total of 169 cases of meningococcemia was registered by the Department of Health for this year, according to DOH Epidemiology Bureau Chief Dr. Chito Avelino.
Avelino said the current figure is 4-percent higher than the 162 cases recorded in the same period in 2018.
He added that studies showed that five out of 10 meningococcemia cases end in death if not treated immediately. He also warned that the number of deaths can fall to around 8 to 13 percent if patients are treated.
He said that patients do die from meningococcemia so it was really important to seek immediate medical treatment and to observe preventive measures.
He also cited the importance of “early diagnosis and immediate treatment with antibiotics” in preventing more deaths, and urged those experiencing symptoms of the disease to seek immediate medical attention.
The symptoms of the disease include coughing, headache, and sore throat, followed by upper respiratory symptoms; fever, chills, malaise, nausea, vomiting, and skin rashes.
In worse cases, the disease will cause lethargy, difficulty of breathing, neck stiffness, sensitivity to light, seizures, hemorrhagic eruptions, purpuric and petechial skin lesion, and hypotension.
Avelino said that health personnel should locate people with the disease; conduct contact tracing and give preventive or antibiotic prophylaxis to arrest the spread of the virus.
He said that although there is a vaccine for meningococcemia, it was not currently being offered by the government in its routine vaccinations.
DOH Assistant Secretary of the Public Health Services Team Maria Rosario Vergeire said that meningococcemia is a deadly but highly preventable disease.
“I urge the public to practice good personal hygiene such as regular handwashing, and covering of mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing to prevent the spread of this disease.”
Meanwhile, a three-year-old boy died within 24 hours of confinement at the Bicol Medical Center in Naga City because of meningococcemia.
According to the hospital, the patient was taken to the hospital on Sept. 28 because of violet rashes all over his body.
A number of other patients have tested positive for meningococcemia in the same hospital as well.
In Paete, Laguna, a seven-year-old is currently confined at the San Lazaro Hospital after he was tested positive for the same illness.
Health authorities are reaching out to the patient’s relatives to take the necessary preventive measures.