17 infants infected with pertussis, 2 deaths recorded in Pasig City
The Pasig City local government on Friday, March 22, said that 17 young children have been infected with pertussis or whooping cough with two recorded deaths following a surge in the number of cases in the country in the previous days.
According to the city government, it has recorded 25 suspected pertussis patients from January to March 2024. A total of 17 individuals tested positive for the disease, with eight probable cases, and two deaths.
The local government unit (LGU) clarified that majority of these cases are infants who are less than two months old and those who haven't been inoculated with the pertussis vaccine.
"Nagcoconduct na po ng response immunization sa barangays na may reported cases; apart from that, and we are also conducting mapping dun sa barangays na may reported cases para maintensify yung vaxx efforts (We are already holding response immunization in the barangays with reported cases and aside from that, we are also conducting mapping in the barangays with reported cases to intensify the vaccination efforts)," the LGU explained.
It assured the public that all its health centers have sufficient supply of pertussis vaccines as well as Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).
Pertussis, also known as the 100-day cough, is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable bacterial disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis with initial symptoms usually similar to those of the common cold with a runny nose, fever, and mild cough. However, these are followed by two or three months of severe coughing fits.
Following a fit of coughing, a high-pitched whoop sound or gasp may occur as the person breathes in. The violent coughing may last for 10 or more weeks, hence the phrase "100-day cough."
Patients infected with the disease may cough so hard that it causes vomiting, rib fractures, and fatigue. Children less than one year old may experience little or no cough at all and instead have periods where they cannot breathe.
On Thursday, March 21, the Quezon City local government declared a pertussis outbreak after it recorded a total of 23 cases in the city, including four pertussis-related deaths of infants, 22 to 60 days old, from January to March 20, 2024.
READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/21/qc-lgu-declares-pertussis-outbreak