Patient’s death sparks ‘meningo’ scare in Pasay

A hospital emergency room in Pasay City was briefly closed and fumigated yesterday after a 35-year-old woman died the previous night of probable meningococcemia, causing panic among hospital staff and nearby residents.

Marjorie Florano died at the Pasay City General Hospital (PCGH) due to "probable meningococcemia," but initial hospital tests on blood samples have turned out negative for the disease.

The case caused a scare among hospital staff, patients and residents, many of whom started wearing surgical masks. Nearby schools also decided to send their students home, but officials said there was no reason for alarm.

"We have taken all the necessary precautions. We have quarantined the hospital," Pasay City Mayor Wenceslao "Pewee" Trinidad said. "People who have come in contact with the patient are undergoing prophylaxis and we just sent a medical team to the surrounding schools for lectures on what this is, how to identify the symptoms and where to report."

Dr. Leto Mangonon, director of the PCGH, said blood samples were sent to the San Juan de Dios Medical Center also in Pasay City. The hospital is equipped with more modern facilities.

Dr. Joyce Francisco of the PCGH said the patient had suffered from fever for five days before she was brought to the emergency room due to vomiting and dropping blood pressure. At the emergency room, she exhibited other manifestations of meningococcemia, turning delirious and showing violet rashes, Francisco said.

The patient was a native of Bicol and was reportedly staying in Parañaque City before she was brought and confined to the PCGH last Tuesday night.

Florano was immediately buried at the Pasay public cemetery.

"I would just like to note that the patient was immediately brought to the isolation ward after she was examined. The hospital conducted the necessary fumigation in some of its rooms to ensure public safety, but the PCGH is still open to the public contrary to reports that the hospital has closed," Mangonon said.

Operations were back to normal yesterday, including the emergency room.

Mangonon said the result of the new tests including blood culture and sensitivity test would be released to the public today.

"Meningococcemia is not an airborne disease. Transmission of such from the victim to another person is not that fast, except when the victim is in close contact with other persons," he said.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque said officials were tracing people who came in contact with the woman and were giving them antibiotics.

He allayed fears that the disease can spread easily, saying it is passed on only through close physical contact.

Meningococcemia, a deadly meningitis-like disease, is endemic in the Philippines and many parts of Asia, but it rarely results in large outbreaks.

It is characterized by sudden onset of fever, headaches, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck and map-like rashes.

The incubation period is usually two to 10 days. – Rhodina Villanueva, Sheila Crisostomo, AFP