THE incidence of pertussis or whooping cough in Metro Manila is stabilizing, but rising in other regions, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.
Meanwhile, the Iloilo City government has officially declared an outbreak of pertussis.
The Bacolod City government, on the other hand, issued on Monday a health alert against pertussis following report that a minor was admitted at a local hospital on suspicion of whooping cough infection.
For its part, the Taguig City government urged residents to take precautions against pertussis.
DOH Undersecretary Eric Tayag said many areas in the country are on alert over the pertussis breakout, particularly among children.
“About 10 regions had an increase in pertussis cases. In NCR, cases are plateauing. This means that the cases in NCR are not increasing as much as we expected,” Tayag said.
At least 453 people nationwide were infected by pertussis within just the first 10 weeks of 2024. Of this number, 38 were reported in the National Capital Region alone, followed by Calabarzon and Central Visayas.
The DOH said 35 patients have died from the illness.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Thursday declared a pertussis outbreak in the city after 23 cases were reported as of March 20.
Tayag said the Quezon City government made an “emergency purchase” of the vaccine to counter pertussis, even as the DOH already provided 1,500 doses to the city.
“There might be other areas that may declare an outbreak. Last week, Iloilo City was about to declare a pertussis outbreak as well,” Tayag said.
Pertussis, which is communicable, also causes symptoms akin to flu such as mild fever, colds, and coughs.
Children with pertussis may also experience apnea or the stopping and restarting of breathing while asleep, difficulty in breathing, and vomiting.
The DOH advised parents and guardians to get children aged six weeks to 23 months old the pentavalent vaccine for Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus, Hepatitis B, and Haemophilus Influenza type B (DPT-HepB-HiB).
The DOH has ordered 800,000 to one million doses of these vaccines, which are expected to arrive in the country by June.
The Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council declared the outbreak following recommendations from the city government’s Health and Sanitation Cluster and the City Health Office (CHO).
According to the CHO, there are seven confirmed cases of pertussis out of the 13 reported cases in the city as of March 24.
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez’s spokesperson, Caesar Distrito, said the patient is not a resident of Bacolod, but is still included in the surveillance report of the CHO.
“Until now, there is no confirmation result yet because the report has been forwarded to the regional office (of the Department of Health),” he added.
Taguig Mayor Laarni Cayetano confirmed that eight cases of the disease were detected in the city, but all have already been treated and have recovered.
The City Health Office stated if anyone suspects they have pertussis based on the symptoms, they are advised to isolate themselves from others and wear a face mask to prevent further spread of the disease.
City health officials said infants can be vaccinated against pertussis, with three primary doses required until they reach one year old.
The City of Taguig has announced that their health centers are open, and they have established the City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CEDSU) and hotlines for those needing assistance.
For immediate assistance, residents can contact the following hotlines: City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CEDSU): 0919-079-9193 and 0915-164-2742, and Taguig Emergency Command Center (ECC) (02) 8789-3200.
Mayor Cayetano assured residents the city is fully prepared to address the outbreak of Pertussis, with skilled personnel, well-equipped health centers, and hospitals.
“If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of Pertussis, seek immediate assistance by visiting the nearest health center or calling the hotlines provided,” she said.