BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – The City Health Office (CHO) has recommended to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) to declare an outbreak of pertussis or whooping cough in the districts of Molo and Jaro.
A highly contagious respiratory disease, pertussis 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 infected persons.
The CHO recorded five confirmed cases – two in Jaro and three in Molo.
The patients, aged between two months to six years old, have not completed their immunization, except for the case of a six-year-old.
In a press conference yesterday, Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna, medical officer IV of the City Health Office, said the health cluster is intensifying its advocacy and active information dissemination on the importance of childhood vaccination.
Fortuna said they are also intensifying basic health protection and education on the prevention of the disease such as hand washing and maintaining respiratory hygiene to prevent the spread of pertussis.
In its advisory issued on March 15, the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 reported the region has a total of 18 cases, indicating a 100 percent increase compared to its 2023 morbidity week 10 data.
In 2022, the city recorded only two suspected cases and one confirmed case in 2023. The DOH-6 said Iloilo City recorded 10 cases of pertussis. Of the number, five have been confirmed and the five others are still suspected cases.
This year’s data is indicative of the 400 percent increase from the previous year, the health department reported.
The City Health and Sanitation Cluster called for an emergency meeting with concerned government agencies and public and private hospitals in the city and discussed the current situation in the city and measures to prevent further increase in positive cases.
After the meeting, the Health and Sanitation Cluster recommended intensifying the advocacy and information campaign on the importance of complete childhood immunization among the barangays, pregnant women, primary caregivers, and healthcare workers, among others.
The health officials also strengthened case detection and reporting of cases to both public and private health facilities, including schools and daycare centers.
They are also intensifying basic health education on infection, prevention and control measures such as hand hygiene, wearing of masks, cough etiquette, and isolation for suspect cases.
“The public is hereby advised to adhere to the above recommendations and work in close partnership with the Health and Sanitation Cluster to prevent future cases,” read the statement./PN
