THE Department of Health (DOH) Central Visayas has denied reports circulating on social media that a business process outsourcing (BPO) firm in Cebu City was reportedly quarantined after one of its employees died of meningococcemia.

Dr. Jaime Bernadas, DOH 7 director, told SunStar Cebu that the online posts are not true.

While his office received reports that a 22-year-old BPO worker died in a private hospital due to suspected meningococcemia, DOH 7 Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (Resu) head Dr. Shelbay Blanco said this was not the case.

Blanco said that after verification, they found out that the woman died of another ailment.

Blanco added they were able to take blood samples from the patient and have them examined for meningococcemia, which turned out negative.

The patient reportedly suffered from sepsis due to streptococcus agalactiae, which does not cause meningococcemia.

Meningococcemia is caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis.

An employee of the BPO firm where the report started told SunStar Cebu that it’s not true that their workplace was placed under quarantine.

“That’s not true. Precautionary measures were put in place, but there was no quarantine. There is already a confirmation that she did not die of meningococcemia. Employees have been informed as well,” the employee, who requested anonymity, added.

DOH 7 officials also clarified that they have not been monitoring any meningococcemia case in the region since January this year. (from HBL of Superbalita Cebu/JKV)