In eastern Visayas, 3-month-old boy dies of pertussis

TACLOBAN CITY — A 3-month-old boy from Gamay town in Northern Samar succumbed to pertussis, also known as whooping cough, the Department of Health (DOH) said.

Jelyn Malibago, DOH information officer in Eastern Visayas, said the baby, who died on April 11, was the first recorded pertussis fatality in the region.

Malibago said the boy, who had received shots against pertussis, was first taken to the Gamay District Hospital but was later transferred to the Northern Samar Provincial Hospital where he died.

READ: Whooping cough: It’s not just a cough

Pertussis is a highly infectious bacterial disease involving the respiratory tract and mostly affects infants. Among the symptoms of the disease include runny nose, nasal congestion, red and watery eyes, fever, cough and extreme fatigue.

Malibago said there were at least 48 suspected pertussis cases in the region from January to April 18.

Of these, seven tested positive for the disease as shown by test results released by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

At least 35 of the victims were children aged one and below. Thirty-three of them had not received vaccines against pertussis. —JOEY GABIETA