Iloilo City under state of calamity due to pertussis outbreak

MANILA, Philippines — The entire city of Iloilo was placed under a state of calamity on Tuesday following a pertussis (whooping cough) outbreak.

This decision was made after the Sangguniang Panlungsod, during a special session held today, approved the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s recommendation to place the city under a state of calamity.

“The City Health Office (CHO)-Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, as of March 26,  2024, logged a total of 16 cases of pertussis, of which seven are confirmed. These cases are from Molo, Jaro, Arevalo and Lapuz,” the Iloilo City government said in a Facebook post.

Under a state of calamity status, the city government can utilize its calamity fund for the procurement of medicines and vaccines for pertussis.

Other measures and responses against the viral disease can also be initiated during this period, as said in the post.