DEATH RISES DUE TO WHOOPING COUGH

The number of deaths in Quezon City due to pertussis or whooping cough has risen to five. Based on the data of City’s Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, a two-month-old female infant died while 25 cases of pertussis were also recorded in Quezon City.

The pertussis disease usually affects infants/children (Photo courtesy of Rappler)

In Central Visayas, six have died due to pertussis and the number of recorded cases of the diseases has reached 115. The city of Iloilo is also under a state of calamity due to the case of pertussis.

In the Davao region, four people have died due to whooping cough and the victims are babies. The Public is encouraged to wear a face mask and it is also a good idea to get vaccinated against pertussis.

According to USec. Eric Tayag of Department of Health (DOH), “avoid kissing the babies on the lips, if the carrier has a little cold, it needs to wear a face mask and wash their hands, there’s a lot that can be done.”

“Even before the pandemic the vaccine coverage really dropped and it dropped even more when there was a pandemic. This is understandable because many places were temporarily locked down so the children were not brought to the center on time. Secondly, the parents are also having second thoughts and many are spreading fake news on social media,” Tayag added.

Thus, there have been declared a pertussis outbreak in three local government units (LGUs): Iloilo City in the Visayas, Quezon City and Pasig City in Metro Manila. A measles outbreak has been announced in Muslim Mindanao's Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BARMM).

Since March 20, the DOH has placed hospitals under a medical emergency state known as "Code Blue." This is in order to carry out nationwide "intensified activities to mitigate the spread of the virus through vaccination, micronutrient supplementation, community engagement, and risk communication."

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

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