Possible meningococcemia case shuts down UP Diliman ER

MANILA, Philippines — The emergency room of the University of the Philippines Health Service in Diliman, Quezon City was temporarily transferred to a different location after a patient died of possible meningococcemia.

UP Health Service acting director Jesus Catabui said the unidentified patient, who died on Thursday, has yet to be confirmed as a case of meningococcemia.

But he noted that the apparent signs of septic shock and the rapid deterioration of the patient made them consider that it was a meningococcemia case, prompting the temporary transfer of the emergency room.

Catabui said the Quezon City Health Office has been informed of the matter and allowed them to release the patient’s body to relatives.

He said the city health office will also do contact tracing, and that appropriate medications have been given to hospital staff who participated in the resuscitative measures done on the patient.

The university official said it is safe to consult at the health service and that emergency room operations would resume on Saturday after 48 hours of ultraviolet light disinfection.

Meningococcemia is a bacterial infection affecting the bloodstream.

Catabui said the illness has a 40 percent fatality rate even with the timely administration of antibiotics and close intensive monitoring.

It is transmitted through inhalation of respiratory secretions of an ill person and is preventable by vaccine.