THE Department of Health yesterday said the number of pertussis or whooping cases in the National Capital Region (Metro Manila) is “plateauing” while almost 10 other regions reported an increase in cases.
Meanwhile, the Iloilo City government declared a pertussis outbreak. The city had seven confirmed cases as of March 23, it said.
“Cases are increasing, I only want to get the go signal of the health cluster before making the announcement,” said Mayor Jerry Treñas hours before the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council approved the declaration.
Treñas urged the public to have themselves vaccinated against pertussis.
The Pasig City government reported a rise in pertussis cases and said it has had two deaths from 25 cases reported from January 1 to March 22. Of the 25 reported cases, 17 were confirmed pertussis cases.
Last week, the Quezon City government declared a pertussis outbreak. At that time, the city said it has recorded 23 cases since January, including four deaths.
The DOH earlier this week said 453 cases have been reported nationwide in the first 10 weeks this year. Health Undersecretary and spokesperson Dr. Eric Tayag said 38 of the cases were in Metro Manila.
He did not identify the other regions where pertussis cases are increasing.
“Halos 10 rehiyon ang may pagtaas sa kaso ng pertussis. Pero dito sa NCR, nagpa-plateau.
Ibig sabihin, hindi tumataas kagaya ng inaasahan natin (Almost 10 regions have reported increases in pertussis cases. But the numbers are plateauing in the NCR. It means the number is not increasing contrary to what we expect),” Tayag told the “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon” forum.
To address the rising pertussis cases, Tayag said the DOH is targeting a 95 percent vaccination rate. The current rate is low — at only 72 percent, he said as he asked parents to get their children vaccinated.
He said even a 25 percent rate of those unvaccinated means 250,000 in real numbers.
Tayag attributed the low vaccination rate to a lack of routine immunization, especially among children, during the COVID-19 pandemic when many parents feared bringing their kids outside of their homes.
Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection that causes influenza-like symptoms of mild fever, colds, and hacking coughs seven to 10 days after exposure.
Tayag said the DOH has purchased 800,000 to a million doses of vaccine, with majority expected to arrive by June this year.
Despite the rise in pertussis cases, Tayag said the DOH is not mulling lockdowns similar to those during the COVID-19 pandemic.
There would also be no mandatory wearing of face masks again. But he said the department is encouraging the public to practice voluntary use of face mask, staying at home when sick, cleaning hands often, and choosing areas with good airflow, to help protect themselves against pertussis. — Ashzel Hachero, Victor Reyes and Christian Oineza
