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Zacapa: Health alert six children died from meningitis
Classes were suspended in the Model Village school where there were several cases.
Oscar F. Herrera oherrera@elperiodico.com.gt
Health Minister, Francisco Arredondo, confirmed yesterday that seven cases of meningitis reported in Zacapa, six children died, so it remains on alert to all health units across the country. It remains to obtain the results of the autopsies of three children who also died. He said that in three cases found that it is a type B influenza virus, so the analysis began to fight the disease and prevent a generalized epidemic.
"We started five days for an immediate surveillance. We had a very aggressive time analysis of the problem. To which met yesterday in Zacapa central committee of the Institute of Epidemiology and Multidisciplinary Commission local area managers and clinicians from the hospital "he said.
He said that a search conducted in the region of vaccines for influenza, however, not in El Salvador or Honduras, were found, so they managed to get about 600 doses in the local market, to be applied to at At least 10 people who had contact with the children who died.
"Should be immunized relatives and those close to children who have died. We managed to strain 2011 as the 2012 strain has not emerged, but cover the case of emergencies we have identified, "he said.
It was reported that Zacapa is the only department where they have placed these cases, however, said that all units remain on alert for possible outbreaks of disease.
Health officials have developed a treatment protocol to manage the patient's sufferings, as they arrived at hospital in Zacapa cases with neurological and respiratory failure, loss of consciousness and seizures, for whom isolation areas fitted out.
"The important thing is that we are alerted to avoid an epidemic. Is controlled mainly because most cases have not appeared by the cordon sanitaire that settled in the country "he said.
Ombudsmen of the Ministry campaigning to alert people about proper hand washing, water treatment and food.
Classes suspended
The Health and Education authorities ordered the suspension of classes at least in the Model Village School, where he studied several of the children died. Classes should recommence until further notice.
