ILOILO CITY – A contagious respiratory disease has killed a baby and infected another in Iloilo province.
Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, chief of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO), confirmed two cases of pertussis or whooping cough in Iloilo.
The first fatality was a month-old baby from Balasan town who also tested positive for Covid-19 and suffered from sepsis.
The second victim was a 21-day-old baby from the municipality of Santa Barbara.
Quiñon said pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the Bordetella bacteria.
“The spread is droplets and contact with contaminated objects used by patients,” said Quiñon.
Quiñon said that hygiene and decontamination are very important following these pertussis cases.
She urged parents to have their children vaccinated with Pentahib offered for free in rural health centers. “This is for six-weeks-old, 10-weeks-old, and 14-weeks-old,” said Quiñon.