The Pasay City General Hospital’s (PCGH) emergency room has been thoroughly cleaned after admitting a patient with suspected meningococcemia.
In a statement, Dr. Mary Joy Salinas-Balanay, emergency room head, said the patient was transferred to the San Lazaro Hospital and is presently awaiting the laboratory confirmation for Neisseria meningitidis.
“As of the moment, we have no meningococcemia outbreak in our city. This is an isolated case. No other similar cases have been recorded,” she added.
Meningococcal disease is a rare but very serious disease caused by a bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis.
“This disease is not as contagious as the common colds or flu as the bacteria causing the disease cannot survive outside of the human host,” Dr. Balanay said.
Dr. Balanay said they are monitoring the people who have had close contact with the patient and have been given the necessary medicines to prevent the spread of the disease.
Doctors and hospital workers in PCGH were also given antibiotics.
“We have done contact tracing and have already provided post-exposure prophylaxis to close contacts of the patient, and we are going to monitor them for any signs and symptoms,” she said.
Dr. Balanay said they have also decontaminated the patient’s house for further safety.
“Practicing good personal hygiene such as regular hand washing and covering of mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing will prevent the spread of this disease. This is a deadly but highly preventable disease,” she said.
The hospital’s emergency room has been opened since 7 p.m. on Sunday night. (Dhel Nazario)
