The Muntinlupa City government warned the public about pertussis, or whooping cough, a highly contagious respiratory illness. 

“Pertussis spreads easily from person to person mainly through droplets produced by coughing or sneezing. The disease is most dangerous in infants, and is a significant cause of disease and death in this age group,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 

Dr. Juancho Bunyi, head of the Muntinlupa City Health Office (Screenshot from Muntinlupa PIO video)

Lecture about pertussis conducted by the Poblacion Health Center in Muntinlupa (Photos from Poblacion Health Center)

The Department of Health (DOH) recorded 453 cases of pertussis in the first 10 weeks of 2024. 

Dr. Juancho Bunyi, head of the Muntinlupa City Health Office (CHO), said pertussis is a bacterial disease affecting the mucous membrane of the throat. 

The symptoms of pertussis, he said, include persistent cough with episodes of vomiting. The cough lasts for two weeks. 

“And for every cough episodes, meron siyang pagsusuka (And for every cough episode, the patient will have vomiting),” Bunyi said in a video uploaded by the Muntinlupa City government on Facebook.  

He told Manila Bulletin that the Muntinlupa CHO is currently monitoring five cases of pertussis from different barangays with no clustering. No death from pertussis has been recorded in Muntinlupa. 

The CHO is also doing a defaulter tracking of children who may have missed their pertussis shots, Bunyi added. 

“Individuals who are experiencing prolonged and  excessive cough of more than 2 weeks with fever, runny nose and with vomiting episodes after bouts of cough are advised to seek immediate consultation,” said Bunyi. 

He added, “Pertussis if left untreated may lead to respiratory distress and eventually difficulty of breathing resulting to death. As of to date Muntinlupa has no fatality from pertussis.”

Bunyi advised wearing of face masks for those who were in close contact and for families with known cases of pertussis. 

“As a standard measure to prevent any type of airborne infection just like pertussis, wearing of face mask is prescribed especially to those in  close contacts and families with known case of pertussis or whooping cough,” he said. 

He encouraged people to have their children vaccinated against pertussis. 

“Since this is a vaccine preventable disease, mother's are encouraged to bring their children to the nearest health facilities to get their pertussis shots which is given free to all public health institutions . Those who failed to complete the dose (defaulters) requirement for the shot are likewise encouraged to get immunized,” he said. 

In the video, he said pertussis is included in pentahib, or pentavalent vaccine,  which is a routine immunization of children in the country. 

Pertussis is part of the DPT immunization, or diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus. 

“Binabakuna yan during the early age (It is administered during the early age). Better to get shot of your pertussis vaccine,” he added. 

Bunyi said people who have had a cough for two weeks should see a doctor, especially during summer months, and start taking antibiotics.