|
The City and the province have joined
forces to allay fears of a meningitis outbreak, and are rolling out an education
campaign focusing on the disease.
THE City and the Gauteng department of health will be rolling
out educational programmes to teach the public about meningitis.
This comes after two children died from the
disease in the past two weeks. The first victim was a 15-year-old learner at Mondeor High School
in the south, who died from bacterial meningitis; the second victim was a seven-year-old
boy from Emaweni Primary
School in Soweto,
who died from viral meningitis.
According to a statement issued by the City's
health department, the programme will focus on what meningitis is, its symptoms
and what must be done when a person is suspected of having the disease.
"The department is ... concerned about the
recent reports of meningitis suggesting that four young people - two from Eldorado Park - passed way because of meningitis.
This, in turn, could lead to unwarranted panic in schools and communities."
Visit
The communities were visited by the officials from the City and the Gauteng department of health,
and medication and information was made available. Despite the deaths, there
are no confirmed cases of meningitis in Eldorado Park.
"One learner passed away in the past week
and since she was buried in less than 24 hours because of religious beliefs, it
was not possible to conduct tests to confirm that meningitis [was] the cause of
death."
A second learner was admitted to Garden City
Clinic after she vomited and had diarrhoea, but the department said the
symptoms were not related to meningitis. "At present doctors are of the opinion
that the symptoms [were] not suggestive of meningitis. Even so, further
investigations will be conducted to confirm the cause of death."
Symptoms of meningitis include a severe
headache, a stiff neck, a fever, vomiting, irritability, reduced consciousness,
and a rash on the body.
It is normally spread through fluid
droplets from the mouth, throat or nose of an infected person. Individuals can
carry the bacteria for days, weeks or months without becoming ill. To prevent meningitis,
avoid contact with any person suspected of having the illness, and wash your hands
regularly, especially after touching a sick person.
Related stories:
|
