Looking Back: The Meningococcemia Crisis
Do you still remember when meningococcemia crisis heated up the health issues in the Philippines some time in 2005? The Philippine media, using it’s power and duty to inform people exaggerated the issue bringing fears to the Filipinos and worsening scenario about the said disease. In their “attempt” to provide awareness to the people, they inculcated ignorance instead. When I was watching the health news, no any media personnel nor network attempted to emphasize on how meningococcemia is transmitted (or I didn’t just notice), instead we only saw some suspected cases, people wearing face masks. So the Filipino thought that a few meters away from the patient can actually cause the disease making it look like the disease was airborne, which was an exaggeration. The disease is transmitted through close, direct physical contact and through coughing, and sneezing, kissing. It can also spread through saliva (spit) when sharing items such as food or drinks, cups, utensils and drinking straws.
Sadly, it was not only the common people who were scared by the said disease. Even health workers (I am not generalizing) became ignorant of the disease that it crippled them to act their duties. The fear still dwells on the people as an aftermath of the crisis. Responsible journalism should always take its part especially when inculcating awareness to the people. Further, ignorance to one’s profession should not be made an excuse to mistreat the patient.
There was a recent case (I think 2 days ago) of highly-suspected meningococcemia (the 2nd case) in our city that brought more scare to the city people (after the 1st incidence of another high suspect a month ago). The patient was not managed in the city government hospital and was immediately referred to the regional hospital which was 2 hours away. And if it were a fulminant meningococcemia, how much chances the the patient has of reaching the provincial hospital still alive? The possible effect to the patient’s family gaining mistrust to the city hospital is highly likely. Tsk.
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