A 53-year-old overseas Filipina worker (OFW) died of meningococcemia in Tanuan, Batangas on September 21, a health official confirmed.
The OFW was set to fly to a Middle East country, Dr. Eduardo Janeiro, director of Department of Health Calabarzon, told The Filipino Times on Wednesday.
She arrived in the Philippines last May for a vacation.
“OFW yung patient. [She] arrived last May [2019] so dito na nya nakuha yung meningo[coccemia], Dr. Janeiro confirmed in a text message to TFT, saying the woman was likely infected in the country.
DOH officials will closely monitor the people she came in contact with.
“Ten days babantayan ang mga nagkaroon ng close contacts sa kanya kahit nabigyan na ng prophylaxis na gamot,” Janeiro said.
Meningococcemia is a rare blood infection caused by the same type of bacteria that can cause meningitis. A person with this infection can spread the bacteria through coughing and sneezing.
“Actually, contracting the disease is through large droplets or secretions coming from the nasopharyngeal area of infected humans,” said Dr. Janeiro.
DOH is also awaiting the blood sample results of three other suspected cases of meningococcemia in Lian, Nasugbu and San Jose. (MN)
