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Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Meningococcemia outbreak 'limited' to cluster
By Rimaliza Opiņa
BAGUIO CITY -- A local health officer said there was an "outbreak" of meningococcemia but affecting only a small group or cluster and not the whole city.
Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, of the City Epidemiological and Surveillance Unit (Cesu), said Monday the panic that followed the reports on meningococcemia cases was probably caused by the "misinterpretation" of the word outbreak.
Brillantes said the term "outbreak", when referring to disease, could both occur in a big group or in a small group or cluster.
"Only a clustered group, not the whole city, got affected here in Baguio," Brillantes told councilors during the regular City Council session Monday.
But Dr. Luningning Villa, head of the Department of Health's infectious disease unit, said in Manila there was no outbreak of meningococcemia, despite 18 new cases recorded in November.
"We call it an unusual increase of cases," Villa said. "There's no cause for alarm. The situation in Baguio is manageable."
Villa said the "sporadic cases come from incidental transmission."
Baguio has recorded 12 meningococcemia cases, including five deaths, since the start of the month.
Six cases have been reported in Manila, including three deaths.
Brillantes explained the "outbreak" was only limited to a cluster of people who attended the wake of the first recorded casualty of meningococcemia, a communicable disease caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis.
It is transmitted through droplets coming from the mouth and nose.
The disease is an acute infection of the bloodstream resulting in the inflammation of the blood vessels.
It is also known as meningococcal septicemia, meningococcal blood poisoning, meningococcal bacteremia or bacteria in the blood.
Though officials downplayed the risk of infection, many Baguio residents have rushed to pharmacies to buy antibiotics, as news of the transmissions spread.
Brillantes said the disease was already contained in Baguio, adding they were able to do this by immediately informing the public how to avoid it and what people should do if they suspect they have the disease.
She added they also traced individuals who came into close contact with suspected meningococcemia patients and quarantined them.
Health officials in the city are still monitoring a 19-year-old and a 6-month-old classified as probable cases of meningococcemia.
They are under observation by doctors of the Contagious Disease Pavilion of the Baguio General Hospital.
No new cases have been reported as of Monday afternoon.
Health officials are still determining if the cold weather in Baguio brought about the sudden rise in meningococcemia cases. (With AP)
(November 23, 2004 issue)
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