ILOILO – The provincial government has reported a rise in proactive health-seeking behavior among the public, leading to an increase in new suspected cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough.
According to the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO), there has been a significant uptick in consultations for children displaying coughing and other signs and symptoms of the disease, resulting in the identification of 27 new suspected cases of pertussis in just one week, from March 23 to March 30.
Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, head of the IPHO, emphasized the role of Rural Health Units (RHUs) in collecting specimens from children showing symptoms for Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) confirmation.
Despite many specimens testing negative for pertussis, the rise in reported cases is attributed to effective disease surveillance, information dissemination by local government units (LGUs), and the proactive health-seeking behavior of parents.
The breakdown of these cases across various towns includes one case in Santa Barbara, two each in Miag-ao, Dumangas, Lambunao, Banate, Pavia, Oton, San Miguel, and Tigbauan, three in San Joaquin, and one each in Ajuy, Concepcion, Anilao, and Passi City.
Quiñon revealed that a total of 27 specimens were sent to the RITM for confirmation within the week.
This brings the total reported cases of pertussis in the province to 57 as of March 30, including 13 laboratory-confirmed cases with four fatalities, and 44 suspected cases, also with four fatalities.
The distribution of confirmed cases includes three in Santa Barbara, one each in Miag-ao, Dumangas, Banate, San Joaquin, Pavia, Anilao, with deaths reported in Dumangas, San Joaquin, Balasan, and Bingawan. The suspected cases include four in Santa Barbara, four in Miag-ao (with one death), and additional cases spread across multiple towns.
Pertussis is a respiratory disease caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacteria, transmitted through coughing or sneezing. Symptoms include a mild cough and cold lasting up to two weeks, followed by severe coughing bouts lasting up to six weeks, characterized by a high-pitched whooping sound upon inhalation, vomiting, exhaustion, low-grade fever, and potentially cyanosis in infants.
Quiñon urges parents and guardians to avoid exposing infants who are not yet eligible for the Pentavalent vaccine to crowded places, individuals with coughs or colds, and unnecessary physical contact. Additionally, parents of infants aged six, ten, and fourteen weeks are encouraged to visit their RHUs for routine immunization, including the pertussis vaccine.
The public is reminded that pertussis prevention includes vaccination, respiratory hygiene, and adherence to minimum public health standards, such as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, regular hand washing, and the use of hand sanitizer.
These measures are crucial to protecting vulnerable populations, including infants not yet eligible for immunization, the under-immunized, and pregnant women./PN
