The ASL of Oristano is starting an epidemiological investigation and prophylaxis for direct contacts of Gabriele Pinna, the 18-year-old judoka from Ghilarza – qualified for the Italian under-21 championships scheduled for a few weeks – killed by probable fulminant meningitis.
The boy arrived at the Emergency Room at the San Martino hospital in Oristano during the night: already in very serious conditions, he was admitted to intensive care but died a few hours later. Laboratory tests are underway to definitively ascertain the cause of death. However, based on the symptoms presented, it would be attributable to meningitis.
Pending the outcome, the Hygiene and Public Health Service of the ASL 5 of Oristano has started the epidemiological investigation to identify all the people who have been in contact with the boy in the last ten days and the protocol to subject close contacts to antibiotic prophylaxis.
"In this regard - explains the director of the Prevention Department Maria Valentina Marras - it should be emphasized that the disease is transmitted from person to person through the respiratory route, through saliva droplets and nasal secretions, which can be dispersed by coughing, sneezing or while talking. For contact to occur, it is necessary to be in close contact (within two meters) and prolonged with the infected person or be in very crowded environments. Close contacts are considered to be family members, partners or cohabitants of the sick person, teachers and classmates, teammates ra, fellow passengers in the same car who have come into contact with the subject in the last 10 days. However, being exposed to pathogens does not necessarily lead to the development of the disease.
" Close contacts are not considered - it is specified - people who have occasionally come into contact with the infected subject (such as students or teachers of the same school). For these, health surveillance is foreseen, to be carried out in collaboration with family doctors, pediatricians, doctors on call and Ascot - who have already been alerted - for the visit and possible administration of antibiotic therapy in the event of the onset of symptoms attributable to meningitis, such as fever, nausea, vomiting, photosensitivity".
The general management of ASL 5 adds that, "to avoid the spread of unjustified alarmism, it is necessary to follow only the indications and prescriptions of the Public Health and Hygiene Service, distributed to general practitioners, medical emergency points, pharmacies. In any case, anyone who falls into the category described among the close contacts and has not yet been called by the Public Health Service, can contact the same service at the email igienepubblica.oristano@asloristano.it ".
(Online Union)