MANILA, Philippines — A Grade 4 student died of septic shock after a school deworming activity in Trece Martires City, Cavite, that also led several other children to fall ill, the Department of Education has confirmed.
The routine deworming was held at Hugo Perez Elementary School on July 2 with the City Health Office.
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"Several learners felt unwell afterward, and by July 3, the Grade 4 learner who later passed away had been hospitalized after experiencing vomiting," the DepEd statement released Monday, July 13, read.
Initial medical findings traced the death to an infection that triggered septic shock.
"We are committed to understanding fully what happened, and are working closely with health authorities as they investigate. DepEd is also taking this opportunity to review our own health and safety protocols, to ensure the wellbeing of every learner," DepEd said.
DepEd Cavite Province and the school earlier said in a July 10 statement that they were "deeply saddened" by the incident and were coordinating with authorities.
If legal action follows, DepEd Cavite officials and personnel "shall not shirk from our responsibilities and sworn duties, and will wholly cooperate," the statement read.
DepEd's guidelines for the conduct of deworming activities require it to be done in the presence of "a health personnel, in coordination with the Department of Health, and with parent's consent."
The department holds these deworming activities twice a year to rid students of intestinal parasites that cause nutritional deficiencies, according to the DepEd implementation booklet.