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Pangasinan still unfazed by meningococcemia

DAGUPAN CITY (Jan 10) – As the meningococcemia scare is slowly dying, major cities here remain vigilant against the dreaded disease.

The local government here has ordered various dining establishments to maintain a high level of sanitation to defeat possible spread of the disease.

A seemingly undeclared ‘travel ban’ to Baguio where cases are reportedly prevalent, prevails among small-scale vendors and also to locals. An alert team was set up in every barangay to monitor visits of people to the famous tourist spot.

In Urdaneta, an information campaign will be conducted in the coming weeks to prevent possible hysteria among the locals following a case of a 10-year-old girl who succumbed to meningococcemia on January 6.

Dr. Bernardo Macaraeg of the City Health Office (CHO) confirmed reports that the victim was afflicted not within city vicinity but during an attendance in a wake, also a meningoceccmia fatality, in Baguio City.

Days upon staying with relatives in Nanbacuran here, the victim manifested signs of the disease and died shortly after being rushed to Region I Medical Center here.

CHO gave doses of prophylaxis to the immediate contacts and conducted health education in the area. Macaraeg said Don Amadeo J. Perez Sr. Memorial General Hospital, where the victim was first admitted, is ready should the disease reach an alarming level in the city.

Meanwhile, market trade hasn’t been affected said City Market Division Administrator Eduardo Perez. Baguio products transported to the city being bought by restaurants and hotels still yield a stable profit, he said.

On Saturday, the latest meningococcemia suspect, an 8-month-old baby, was declared free of the disease, according to RIMC Director Dr. Jesus canto and attending physician Dr. John F. Fernandez. # Jhong dela Cruz for NORDIS

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