School in Dubai denies child died due to meningitis

Dubai: School officials and health authorities on Wednesday said there were no confirmed cases of meningitis in Dubai and the child who died on Sunday did not die of the infection.

A GEMS spokesperson confirmed the death of a girl studying at GEMS Wellington Academy, but said it was not due to meningitis.

“We are deeply saddened on hearing about the passing away of one of our students, Z. N. S., from GEMS Wellington Academy – Silicon Oasis, in the early hours of November 1. Our thoughts are with the family during this difficult period,” the spokesperson told Gulf News in a statement.

“The Deputy Director of Schools and Educational Health Unit from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) visited the school and has shared findings from the investigations into Z.’s cause of death. They have confirmed that this was not a case of meningitis or a communicable disease."

The spokesperson did not explain the cause of the child’s death.

Meningitis is caused by the inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord due to a bacterial or fungal infection. It is considered a serious disease and is usually caused by an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Gulf News could not get an official comment from health officials confirming the cause of the four-year-old’s death. But in a circular sent to private schools in Dubai on Wednesday, the DHA said: “There are no confirmed cases of meningococcal meningitis in Dubai.”

News of the pupil’s death started making rounds on social media on Tuesday afternoon. Alarmed parents circulated an October 29 letter from a Dubai school warning parents that one of its pupils had fallen ill possibly with meningitis. The school, however, on Wednesday released a clarification to parents that the child’s health is improving.

The school principal said: “On Wednesday of last week, our medical staff examined a KG student complaining of flu type symptoms and a stiff neck. The parents were called to the school, and as a precaution, the child was taken for further medical examinations. Whilst the results of these examinations are not yet known, the parents have informed me that their child’s health is improving.”

“I can confirm that no other medical reports of a similar nature have been received since last week,” he added.

Dr Medhat Abu-Shaaban, and Medical Director at myPediaclinic, told Gulf News that there is no need to panic as “meningitis itself is not easily contagious by casual contact. It has to be via secretions. So if a child who has meningitis secretes bodily fluids that goes to his hand and gets transferred to the hand of another, only then can it be possibly transmitted.”

Meningitis can be caused by any trigger – viral, bacterial, fungal, any kind of microorganisms or even chemical- that affects the outer covering or meninges of the brain, therefore it is difficult to have a complete line of defence against it although certain vaccinations against the meningococcal strain and that caused by Haemophilius Influeza Virus ( HiB) can give a considerable amount of protection.

Children can be protected against the deadlier strains with the meningococcal and Hib Vaccine.