Suspected ‘meningo’ victim dies

BAGUIO CITY — A suspected victim of meningococcemia, a dreaded bacterial disease, died only a few hours after he was rushed to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center this week.

City health officer Florence Reyes, speaking on behalf of the task force which the city government created to stop the spread of the disease, said attending doctors tried to save the life of the victim, a five-year-old boy, but to no avail.

The boy’s ailment was reportedly on its advanced stage.

Despite this, Reyes allayed fears that meningococcemia might break out anew in this city, saying those who have been in close contact with the boy have been subjected to prophylactic or preventive treatment.

City officials have been exerting efforts to contain the spread of the bacterial disease which caused a slump in local tourism last month.

This year, health officials recorded a total of 28 meningococcemia cases in the Cordilleras, including 13 deaths.

Although the disease has been contained, Reyes said any individual may still be susceptible to it since the bacteria naturally inhabits the upper respiratory tract. The person gets infected when his immunity goes down.

If diagnosed early, the disease could be treated, doctors said.