MANILA – The pertussis outbreak in the Philippines is under control, Department of Health (DOH) secretary Teodoro Herbosa claimed on Tuesday.
According to Herbosa, there is nothing since the cases have already plateaued and the Health department has vaccines for the respiratory infection.
“Parang controlled na sya, parang nagpa-plateau but we’re closely monitoring,” Herbosa said in an interview at the Senate. “Walang dapat ikatakot dito sa sakit na pertussis.”
He added: “Meron tayong Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit, mino-monitor yung pertussis cases. Luckily, meron tayong bakuna para dito so very important.”
Even with the lowering of cases, Herbosa justified the importance of protecting the population from pertussis, which is common among children aged 0 to 5.
“The vaccination program continues so kung anak nyo e nandun sa age group na yun from zero to five years old, kailangan ma-schedule na yung kanilang bakuna. Kung hindi pa nabakuna, hindi pa naman huli pwede pa ring magpabakuna,” Herbosa said.
“But, we only administer the vaccine to asymptomatic people, dini-defer namin yung vaccination kung may lagnat yung bata , o may ibang sintomas,” he added.
Pertussis, which causes influenza-like symptoms like mild fever, colds, and coughs seven to 10 days after exposure, may be transmitted when an infected person sneezes or coughs within three feet.
Children with pertussis may also experience apnea or the stopping and restarting of breathing while asleep, difficulty in breathing, and vomiting.
Currently, three local government units have already declared a pertussis outbreak: Quezon City and Pasig City in Metro Manila, and Iloilo City in the Visayas./PN
