By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Officials with the Department of Health (DOH)-Davao are reporting the first confirmed case of meningococcemia this year in a four-year-old boy, who died at the Brokenshire Hospital Integrated Health Ministries.

Gram-negative Neisseria meningitidis diplococcal bacteria/CDC

DOH-Davao regional director Annabelle Yumang said that so far, none of those people who had contact with him have manifested any sign or symptoms that are similar to the case definition of meningococcemia.

Health officials will continue the surveillance and monitoring for 10 days after their last exposure to the patient.

Yumang said post-exposure prophylaxis was immediately administered to the pupils and teachers of a pre-school where the boy studied, family members, and emergency room staff of the hospital.

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Meningococcemia is a bloodstream infection caused by bacteria that can also cause meningitis.

Meningococcemia is spread through close contact like kissing, sharing utensils with or drinking after an infected person.

Yumang said the city had 13 suspected cases of meningococcemia this year, three of them died.