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.
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