Taguig: Student died of septic shock, not meningococcemia

There were no reported cases of meningococcemia in Taguig, the local government assure the public on Sunday, after posts appeared on social media that the deadly bacterial infection had killed five students.

“According to the Taguig City Health Office, there is only one reported death from Kapt. Eddie Reyes Integrated School (KERIS) with a diagnosis of septic shock,” the local office of the Department of Education said through the official Facebook page of the Taguig government.

“There are no other reported cases of death from the said school,” it added.

In one of post, a certain Hanna dela Cruz, who identified herself as “one of the alumni of KERIS” in Barangay Pinagsama, said meningococcemia was the reason the school suspended its classes on Sept. 19.

The Taguig City Hall has still to respond to Inquirer, confirming if classes were indeed suspended at KERIS, and if classes would be resumed on Monday.

In addition, the post which was already deleted mistakenly called the disease a “deadly viral bacteria.”

According to the Department of Health, meningococcemia is a bacterial infection caused by Neisseria meningitides, the same type of bacteria that causes meningitis.

When the bacteria infects the membranes (meninges) covering the brain and spinal cord, the infection is called meningitis. But when the infection remains in the blood and does not infect the brain or spinal cord, it becomes meningococcemia.

N. meningitides are common in the upper respiratory tract of humans and do not necessarily cause illness. The disease, however, spreads from person to person through sneezes or coughs.

Its symptoms include fever, fatigue, vomiting, chills, muscle pains, diarrhea and formation of dark purple rashes in the later stages, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It may lead to organ failure, which consequently results to severe disability or death.

/atm

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