Death of an Aklanon not yet a confirmed meningo case, health officials say
Kalibo, Aklan -His death cannot yet be confirmed to be caused by meningococcemia.
This is what Dr. Myrtle Pelayo, Provincial DOH Representative here, and Dr. Maria J. Magpusao, Chief of Technical Services Division of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) said when asked on the cause of death of one Nestor de Juan, 46 years old, single, from Barangay Fulgencio, Balete, Aklan who was brought to Iloilo for treatment of high grade fever with accompanying severe joint pain on both legs and for further evaluation and management.
Dr. Pelayo and Dr. Magpusao said it cannot be confirmed yet that De Juan died of meningococcemia because as of this writing, laboratory findings after 48 hours of monitoring his blood samples showed negative of the disease. The two doctors said it can only be confirmed that De Juan died of meningococcemia after five days more or on Monday, February 13 if laboratory result from the blood sample will test positive.
For now, these Aklan health officials emphasized that De Juan's cause of death is yet only a suspected case of meningococcemia.
Based on the report of the Local Health Assistance Division (LHAD) here forwarded to the DOH Center for Health Development 6, De Juan's illness started as fever until Sunday, February 5 at about 11: o'clock when he was noticed to have bluish black appearance of the nose and both lower extremities. He was sent to St. Jude Hospital and eventually was transferred to St. Gabriel Hospital where he was immediately admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. On the same day, he was transferred to an Iloilo hospital where he died.
The report further said that De Juan had a history of nervous breakdown but had completely recovered, takes alcoholic drinks everyday, drives a jeepney plying from Balete to Kalibo every other day and is a known smoker.
The report also stated that right after the Iloilo hospital confirmed that De Juan is suspected to be sick with meningococcemia, Dr. Magpusao, together with Dr. Rodriguez, the Municipal Health Officer of Balete RHU and Roger Debuque, a Medical Technologist, went to Brgy. Fulgencio, Balete and brought with them medicines. All identified persons exposed to the patient were given medications for prophylaxis. A relative who had a direct contact with the patient had a fever, so he was given medicines for seven days and was advised to be isolated from the rest of the family members until the fever subsided. When his fever subsided February 7, he was still advised to take the medication and remain isolated until the 7th day.
At the St. Gabriel Hospital, all personnel were given prophylaxis, while the ICU was cleaned and disinfected.
The deceased was buried upon arrival in Balete on February 7.
Dr. Pelayo said that to keep everybody from being infected with the bacteria that causes meningococcemia and other deadly diseases, one must keep away from crowded places, practice proper hygiene, cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, eat nutritious food and have proper rest to strengthen body resistance. (Venus G. Villanueva/PIA-Aklan)