The Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center was temporarily closed Monday through Tuesday at 8:00 a.m., for disinfection, according to the Manila Public Information Office.
According to the local government, the area will first undergo “terminal cleaning and disinfection” after the death of a patient suspected of having meningococcemia.
“The Emergency Room (ER) of Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center (GABMMC) will be closed until 8:00 AM tomorrow, March 23,” the local government said in a statement Monday.
“This is to make way for the ER’s terminal cleaning and disinfection due to a suspected Meningococcemia case who died earlier in the said area.”
According to Healthline, it is a “rare infection caused by the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria, the same type of bacteria that can cause meningitis.”
WHO said, “the bacteria are transmitted from person-to-person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions from carriers. Smoking, close and prolonged contact – such as kissing, sneezing or coughing on someone, or living in close quarters with a carrier – facilitates the spread of the disease.”
Meningococcemia outbreak is only declared if its occurrence is more than what would generally be expected in a defined community, geographical area, or season.
What are the first signs of meningococcemia?
- A reddish or purple skin rash
- General poor feeling
- Severe, persistent headache
- Sudden high fever
- Nausea or vomiting
- Discomfort in bright lights
- Neck stiffness
- Joint pain
- Confusion or other mental changes
- Drowsiness or difficulty awakening
How do you get the meningococcal disease?
WHO said, “the bacteria are transmitted from person-to-person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions from carriers. Smoking, close and prolonged contact – such as kissing, sneezing or coughing on someone, or living in close quarters with a carrier – facilitates the spread of the disease.”
How to treat meningococcemia?
The most crucial treatment for meningococcemia is early intravenous antibiotic therapy.