2 Batangas schools closed as pupil dies of rare disease

BATANGAS CITY — A rare disease that killed a Grade 2 student here has prompted local health authorities to temporarily close two schools for quarantine since June 26.

Dr. Rose Barrion, city health officer, identified the victim as eight-year-old Prince Charles Liboon, a pupil of the Batangas City East Elementary School in Barangay Pallocan East.

Liboon died while being rushed to the Golden Gate General Hospital at about 2 a.m. on June 26.

Another school, Stonyhurst School, situated near the Batangas City East Elementary School, has decided to suspend its classes since Monday for fear of the killer disease.

Barrion told The STAR that Liboon died of a rare disease called meningococcal septicemia or meningococcaemia, which involves bacteria mostly present in overcrowded places like schools and military camps.

"(The disease involves) person-to-person bacteria often transmitted through respiratory secretions," Barrion said, adding that symptoms include "fever, joint and muscle pain, headache, drowsiness and skin rashes."

Barrion said the bacteria are present in the human upper respiratory tract. "Pag bumagsak ang resistensya ng isang tao doon madalas lumalabas ang mga sintomas (When a person’s resistance goes down, symptoms often appear) that could lead to meningitis."

Barrion, however, urged the public not to be alarmed, saying they have managed to contain the disease from spreading.

"I have already instructed the immediate disinfection and fumigation of the schools and their surroundings," she added.

Barrion also ordered that all of the victim’s relatives be quarantined to prevent an outbreak of the disease.

"Luckily, wala namang nagpapakita ng symptoms sa mga kamag-anak na sumailalim sa aming quarantine (no one among the boy’s relatives quarantined has shown any symptoms)."

"This is a rare disease which only occurs in one to two cases per 100,000 population, but it’s not a new disease because it has been here in our country," she said.

Barrion decried earlier newspaper reports (not in The STAR) that the disease is deadlier than SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and can be transmitted from the manure of pigeons.

"That’s very unfair and alarming to the people who do not understand the disease," she said.

Barrion said meningococcaemia can be treated with antibiotics if the symptoms are detected immediately.

The Parents-Teachers Community Association of the Batangas City East Elementary School has asked the Department of Education to suspend classes until the disease has been fully contained.

During the wake, Liboon’s casket was tightly sealed and the boy’s relatives were prevented from going near it supposedly to avoid contamination.