Negros Occidental’s suspected pertussis cases have increased to 19, Dr. Girlie Pinongan, Provincial Health Officer, said Friday, April 5.
The age range of the reported suspected cases are from one month old to 62 years old, she said.
So far only a 2-month-old baby has tested positive for pertussis and has since recovered, Pinongan said.
Research Institute of Tropical Medicine test results are needed to determine if the 19 cases are positive or not, she said.
Seven patients are hospitalized while the rest are in home isolation, she added.
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection that in some cases could be fatal.*