Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is advising parents to protect their children against pertussis, a highly contagious respiratory tract infection commonly known as “whooping cough”, as the first suspected case in the city has been reported, his spokesman said on Monday, March 25.
Barangay Captain Caesar Distrito, the mayor’s spokesman, said a minor who has suspected pertussis has been admitted in a Bacolod hospital.
The minor is not from Bacolod City and there are no confirmation results of pertussis yet from the Department of Health regional office, Destrito said.
Pertussis, caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacterium, spreads via respiratory droplets and may result in serious health issues, such as pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and potentially fatal outcomes, the Department of Health said.
The advice of the mayor and the City Health Office is for children to avoid going out of their house, especially those who are unvaccinated, Distrito said.
There is a need for children to avoid crowded places like Churches and markets, he said.
Adults are also advised to wear masks to avoid being infected and bringing the disease home to their children, Distrito said.
The City Health Office is trained for any outbreak and is conducting vaccinations as a preventive measure, he said.
Dr. Carmela Gensoli, Bacolod City Health Officer, stressed the need for children to get the 5-in-1 vaccine that protects against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and Hib disease.
Meanwhile, the Iloilo City Sangguniang Panlungsod will soon declare a state of calamity following a pertussis outbreak.
Iloilo Mayor Jerry Treñas said he met “with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to address the rising Pertussis cases in Iloilo City. They’ve advised declaring an outbreak citywide, a crucial step to ensure swift action and allocation of resources for vaccination and swabbing initiatives. Time is of the essence as we prioritize the well-being of our people.”*