DOH confirms diphtheria case in Pandacan

The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday confirmed that the death of a 10-year-old student in Pandacan was due to diphtheria, a highly communicable bacterial infection.

DOH Undersecretary Eric Domingo confirmed this to GMA News Online via text message.

According to Domingo, the confirmation was based on the result of the test conducted at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

Earlier, the student in Pandacan was suspected to have died of the infection as claimed by a school nurse. Because of this, a sample was taken from the student and sent to RITM.

Diphtheria, a serious and infectious bacterial infection, can be countered as long as one completes the vaccines required, according to the Department of Health.

According to the World Health Organization, the primary symptoms are sore throat and low fever.

If the diphtheria toxin is severe, there may be a buildup of dead tissues in the throat and tonsils, causing difficulties in breathing and swallowing. —KBK, GMA News