In the sector of Las Colinas, in San Francisco de Macoris, Duarte province, two persons died from a meningococcal infection and their son is in the intensive care unit (ICU) at a local clinic. Elva Rosa Fernandez and her husband Jose Peralta both died at the Centro Medico Siglo 21 in SFM. Their five-year old son is currently in stable condition at the ICU of the same clinic, according to the local Public Health director, Dr. Ramon Moricete Fabián.
Meningococcal septicemia, also called blood poisoning, occurs when bacteria in the bloodstream multiply uncontrollably. This infection occurs in two forms: either as meningitis (an infection of the two spheres of the brain) or as septicemia, a very serious blood poisoning (or both!). In the SFM case, transmission was respiratory with physical contact.
The Ministry of Public Health sanitized the residence where the family lived. As another precautionary measure the private school attended by the young boy has been closed, and health guidance provided to the director and teachers at the school.
Peralta was buried in San Francisco de Macoris, yet his wife’s body was sent to Santo Domingo for an autopsy.
In spite of the disinfections carried out by the health officials, the community is still on edge, and the authorities are on the lookout for persons with symptoms such as high fever, headache, irritability, muscular pain, nausea, skin blemishes with small red or purple spots on the feet or on the legs. If any of these symptoms occur, persons are advised to notify the nearest health authorities.
Read more in Spanish:
Diario Libre
2 March 2020