A 2-month-old baby girl died from probable pertussis at a district hospital in northern Negros Occidental Tuesday night, Dr. Girlie Pinongan, Provincial Health Officer, said Wednesday, April 3.
They are waiting for the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine test results to determine if the child was positive or negative for pertussis, she said.
Earlier a 1-month-old baby boy from Murcia town who tested positive for pertussis also died.
Negros Occidental has recorded eight positive pertussis cases, 13 negative, and there are 18 probable cases awaiting RITM test results, she said.
Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial disease that causes severe, uncontrollable coughing fits that can leave the individual “whooping” for deep breaths afterwards. It affects people of all ages, but is especially dangerous and even fatal for young children and infants, the Department of Health (DOH) said.
It 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.*