MANILA, Philippines — A preschool pupil died of meningococcemia in Davao City, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed yesterday.
The DOH-Davao Center for Health Development said surveillance and monitoring of the people who had close contact with the fatality is ongoing.
“People who may have had close contact with the patient will be monitored for 10 days after their last exposure to the infected person,” the DOH said.
Among those being monitored are the family members, schoolmates and teachers of the victim as well as hospital staff who attended to him.
The DOH said post-exposure prophylaxis was given to those who had close contact with the patient.
None of those who are being monitored have manifested any symptoms of the illness, the DOH said.
Among the early symptoms of meningococcemia are fever, headache, rashes, nausea, irritability and anxiety.
A DOH team visited the school of the fatality and met with the teachers and parents.
Doctors said meningococcemia could spread through coughing, sneezing, kissing and sharing of food with an infected person.
The DOH warned the public against spreading false information about the disease.