The Department of Health (DOH) recorded a total of 1,566 pertussis cases in the Philippines, with Quezon City accounting for 19 confirmed cases and two deaths.
"The good news in Quezon City is their mayor is proactive and responsive to the pertussis outbreak recently and nako-control (The good news in Quezon City is their Mayor is proactive and responsive to the pertussis outbreak recently and it was controlled)," DOH Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Albert Domingo said during an interview with PTV Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon on Tuesday, April 23.
Despite these efforts, Domingo highlighted that the country continues to experience an “upward trend” in pertussis cases, stressing the importance of vaccination in controlling the outbreak.
"Hindi pa natin nakikita ang downward trend, hinihintay pa natin na pumasok ang epekto ng pagbabakuna (We have not yet seen the downward trend; we are still waiting for the effect of vaccination)," Domingo stressed.
Regarding vaccination efforts, he mentioned that the DOH is awaiting three million doses, with an additional 5.1 million doses being procured to supplement the supply.
However, Domingo reiterated Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa's warning of a potential shortage of pertussis vaccine in May.
"To prevent that, kami ay papasok sa emergency procurement in addition dun sa inaantay natin na three million (we will enter into emergency procurement in addition to the three million we are waiting for)," Domingo explained.
In light of the outbreak, Domingo issued a reminder to parents to “limit interactions” between babies and other children to prevent the spread of the disease.
"At tayo namang matatanda, kung kailangan natin mag-interact sa mga baby, magsuot ng facemask at maghugas ng kamay (And for adults, if we need to interact with babies, wear a facemask and wash hands)," Domingo noted.