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No such thing as “meningo-free” — Baguio City Health Officer

BAGUIO CITY (Apr. 7) — “Baguio City will not be free from meningococcemia just like the other provinces,” said Dr. Florence Reyes, Baguio City Health Officer as she opposed the notion that the city is now free from meningococcemia.

After the decrease in the number of meningo cases reported, there seems to be no update about the meningococcemia from the media which made people think that there are no longer meningococcemia cases.

“Wala nang meni-meningo dito sa Baguio!”(there is no longer meningo here in Baguio!) a strawberry vendor at the public market commented. NORDIS tried to interview more vendors but they tend to shy away. The “meningo scare” inflicted some adverse effects on the vendors’ livelihood, they say.

But Reyes said that there are still meningococcal cases. “It is better to say that people should still be aware of meningococcemia rather than declaring Baguio as meningo-free because there are sporadic cases,” she added.

She reiterated earlier pronouncements that 20% - 30% of Philippine population are carriers of the neisseria meningitidis, the bacteria causing meningococcemia.

“Some of us carry these bacteria in their throats and noses,” Reyes warns, but quips that it is not easily transmitted because it is not airborne.

Based from the report of Dr. Myrna C. Cabotaje, Director IV of DOH-CAR, from March 27 to April 2, 2005, there were 16 reported meningococcal infection cases from Baguio City, La Trinidad, Itogon, Kabayan, all in Benguet and Tapapan, Bauko, Mountain Province but all classified as primary cases.

One half of these had septicemia, one-fourth had septicemia and meningitis and the rest, meningitis only. There were none reported to be inflicted with the dreaded meningococcemia. Compared to the March 20-26 morbidity week where there were 13 cases, a 13% increase was noted.

Dr. Cabotaje added that cases in Baguio slightly decreased as recorded last March 6-12. Twenty-nine barangays were affected but all the cases were primary cases.

With the incessant number of meningococcal cases, Dr. Cabotaje affirmed that there were actions taken such as continuous active surveillance in the whole region at all levels; allocation and distribution of antibiotics to hospitals and municipalities; evaluate indications for and formulate guidelines for immediate response vaccination activities; intensification of information and education campaigns in identified high-risk areas, and others.

Though meningococcemia exists not only in Baguio, Dr. Reyes recommends that if and when there are patients diagnosed with respiratory infection, fever, rashes, or combined they should see their doctors for check-up. People are advised to avoid crowded places to prevent contacting meningococcemia. She also advises that people should observe respiratory etiquette, major resistance and must have a healthy lifestyle.

Dr. Ana Leung, Executive Director of Community Health Education, Services and Training in the Cordillera Region (CHESTCORE) said that the way meningococcemia is being handled today reflects the Public Health Care’s system in resolving such cases. # Pearly Ann F. Ancheta / MMSU intern

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