LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – The Department of Health (DOH) recorded 21 cases of pertussis or whooping cough with one fatality in the Bicol region from January 1 to April 7.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, April 12, the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) of the DOH-Bicol Center for Health Development reported that the province of Albay had six cases, Camarines Sur, nine; Sorsogon, five, and Masbate, one.
The provinces of Catanduanes and Camarines Norte have no recorded cases.
The fatality was from the province of Masbate.
DOH-Bicol said that six cases were laboratory confirmed and 15 are clinical cases.
Infected were aged one-month-old to 34-years-old and the median age is five-months-old.
Seven were males and 14 were females.
DOH-Bicol said pertussis is highly contagious through droplets from coughing or sneezing of infected individuals and can also lead to death for infants.
Among the symptoms are cold, fever, and cough that last for at least one to two weeks.
Children with pertussis may also experience vomiting and turn blue due to difficulty in breathing.
DOH-Bicol reminded the public to wash hands and wear facemasks to avoid pertussis.