(Eagle News) — The girl who was suspected of having died of meningococcemia in a Valenzuela hospital over the weekend tested negative for the disease.
The Valenzuela government made the announcement in a Facebook post on Thursday, Jan. 17.
In a television interview, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian said the results of the “blood culture” test on the girl have already been sent to the Department of Health.
He said the test was conducted by a DOH-accredited center on the girl after medical personnel who assisted her when she was rushed to the Valenzuela City Emergency Hospital noticed the “rashes” and other symptoms of a possible meningococcemia on her.
According to Gatchalian, even without the results out, the hospital was “disinfected” and the medical personnel who came in contact with the girl were given “prophylactic antibiotics.”
“Gayunpaman, pinaaalalahanan ng pamahalaang lungsod ang publiko na huwag pangunahan ng takot at maging maingat sa kalusugan,” the Valenzuela government said.
Before the results came in, Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo said the sample of the girl “seems very compatible with meningococcemia.”
Meningococcemia is an infection caused by the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria, which is the same type of bacteria that can cause meningitis.
According to the DOH, 200 cases of meningococcemia are reported yearly.With a report from PNA
