Marikina hospital ER reopens after meningococcemia scare

Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center(Facebook photo)

MANILA, Philippines—The emergency room of a Marikina City hospital, where a one-year-old girl was suspected to have died of meningococcemia, has reopened , a radio report said.

The Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center in Marikina City resumed the operation of its emergency room after making its lobby a makeshift ER to give way to its disinfection to prevent the potential spread of the deadly disease.

The victim was rushed Monday night to for having symptoms similar to that of meningococcemia, an acute air borne infection of the blood stream. Symptoms may include fever, rashes, headache, anxiety, irritability, muscle pain and nausea. Those exposed to the disease are at increased risk.

Five hours after her confinement, the girl, from Barangay (village) Mambugan, Antipolo, was pronounced dead at 11:45 p.m.

The hospital staff and those who had direct contact with the victim were given prophylaxis, an antibiotic.

Dr. Emmanuel M. Bueno, medical center chief of the Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center, said that the hospital has been given the clearance to reopen its ER.

“The ER was disinfected since last night until this morning. We already have the clearance so our ER is safe and ready to be re-occupied,” he said.
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Marikina hospital ER closed after child dies of alleged meningococcemia