Negros Occidental records rise in pertussis cases

Pertussis in Negros Occidental. INQUIRER FILES

BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines — The confirmed pertussis cases in Negros Occidental have increased to 13, health officials here reported.

Dr. Girlie Pinongan, the provincial health officer, said on Friday that most of those who tested positive were children, many of whom were below 9 months old.

Pinongan said there were no alarming number of pertussis cases in schools, but the extreme heat caused by the El Niño phenomenon could cause children to suffer from coughing.

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

“Everyone should stay hydrated and if there are children who are coughing in schools, it is best to wear masks,” she said.

She reminded parents to get their babies immunized to protect them from pertussis.

The provincial health office earlier this month recorded its first fatality due to pertussis, a 1-month-old boy. However, a 2-month-old girl who died from suspected pertussis tested negative for the disease, Pinongan said.

READ: DOH: Mostly infants below 6 months old succumb to pertussis

Age range

According to Pinongan, of the 54 reported suspected pertussis cases in Negros Occidental, 13 were positive, 24 were negative while the test results of 17 others are not out yet.

Pinongan said the age range of those who were affected by suspected pertussis were from 1 month to 62 years old.

The provincial government earlier announced it had ordered some 10,000 doses of pentavalent vaccines to be administered to babies at 6, 10 and 14 weeks old to protect them against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, influenza B and hepatitis.

Pinongan said only 62 percent of the babies in Negros Occidental have been fully immunized and that they need to vaccinate 14,000 more.

Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial disease that causes severe, uncontrollable coughing fits that can leave the individual “whooping” for deep breaths afterward.

It affects people of all ages but is especially dangerous and even fatal for young children and infants, the Department of Health (DOH) said.

Pertussis is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. It is easily transmitted from person to person through infectious droplets produced from coughing or sneezing.

People become infected by inhaling these droplets or touching surfaces with infected droplets and subsequently touching their eyes, nose or mouth, the DOH said.