Protecting Filipinos against meningococcal disease - BusinessWorld Online

Protecting Filipinos against meningococcal disease - BusinessWorld Online

In October 2004, a hospital in northern Luzon began admitting a growing number of patients with fever, rashes, diarrhea, vomiting, neck rigidity, seizures, and other alarming symptoms. All were diagnosed with meningococcal disease. By the end of January 2005, 98 cases and 32 deaths had been recorded or a fatality rate of 33%. In February 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed an outbreak of serogroup A meningococcal disease in the C…