BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – This city has so far logged 30 cases of pertussis, including the death of a one-year-old infant.
In its advisory issued yesterday, the city confirmed 10 cases, while one of those infected has died.
On the other hand, 20 of the 30 cases were classified as “probable,” meaning the patients exhibited symptoms of pertussis but tested negative for the disease.
Pertussis, commonly known as “whooping cough” is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can be particularly severe among infants and young children.
This can be acquired primarily through direct contact with discharges from the respiratory mucus membranes of the infected persons.
Citing data from the Department of Health (DOH-6), Mayor Jerry P. Treñas confirmed the first death.
He lamented the shortage of available vaccines for children.
“I call on the DOH to help local government units in the supply of pertussis vaccines so that we can protect our population,” said Treñas.
Likewise, the mayor said he was informed that DOH will be sending 6,000 doses of pertussis vaccine to Iloilo City.
“Our city health doctors and nurses will make sure to ramp up the vaccination of infants right away,” said Treñas.
Infants not yet eligible for vaccination and infants and young children exposed to individuals who are experiencing influenza-like symptoms are at high risk of pertussis.
The City Health Office (CHO) reported that some 1,200 children have been vaccinated, out of a target of 30,836 children ranging from zero to 59 months old.
But CHO said they resorted to “selective immunization” due to a shortage of vaccines.
“We saturate areas where there are positive cases of pertussis,” said Dr. Jennifer T. Anceno, CHO national immunization program coordinator.
The city government purchased 3,700 vials of hexavalent (6-in-1) vaccine for the outbreak response immunization (ORI).
Selective immunization is currently being implemented in barangays San Jose in Arevalo district; Benedicto, Taytay Zone 2, and MV Hechanova in Jaro district; Boulevard, Calumpang, San Juan, and North Baluarte in Molo district; and Oñate de Leon in Mandurriao district.
The Iloilo City Council earlier approved the recommendation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) to place the city in a state of calamity to address the spread of the disease.
With the declaration, the city government will utilize about P16 million calamity funds, mobilize health resources, and implement measures to tackle the spread of the diseases.
The pertussis bacteria may be spread through droplets and indirect contact with articles freshly soiled with discharges of infected persons. Its symptoms include a cough persisting for two or more weeks, paroxysms which usually occurs at night, followed by vomiting and exhaustion./PN