DOH TO LGUS: PREPARE FUNDS FOR VACCINES VS PERTUSSIS
With the outbreak of pertussis, or “whooping cough,” in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) has asked local government units (LGUs) in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) region to allocate funds for vaccine procurement.
The DOH-Calabarzon, in an earlier statement, said its Center for Health Development is working closely with local governments in the region “to identify needs and provide assistance, especially in high-risk areas.”
“The priority is the emergency purchase of pentavalent vaccines and antibiotics, which will be used during the outbreak response immunization and as post-exposure prophylaxis medication,” the agency said.
As of March 16, the DOH in the region said Cavite province recorded the highest number of pertussis cases at 32. It was followed by Rizal with 27 cases, Laguna with 25, Batangas with 14, Quezon with seven, and a case in Lucena City.
The DOH noted that the age group with the most cases was children one year old and below, comprising 77 percent of cases reported to the agency.
“Almost nine out of 10 did not complete the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine,” it said.
Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
It spreads easily from person to person mainly through droplets produced by coughing or sneezing. The disease is most dangerous in infants, and is a significant cause of disease and death in this age group.
The first symptoms generally appear seven to 10 days after infection. These include a mild fever, runny nose and cough, which in typical cases gradually develop into a hacking cough followed by a “whooping” cough.
The WHO said people with pertussis are most contagious up to about three weeks after the cough begins, and many children who contract the infection have coughing spells that last four to eight weeks.
Antibiotics are used to treat the infection, it added.
Last Wednesday, Cavite declared a state of calamity amid a pertussis outbreak in the province as cases reached 36 with six fatalities. Bacoor City topped the list with six cases and one fatality.
The Cavite City government urged the public to observe safety measures and remain vigilant on the symptoms of pertussis.
Public reminder
The Quezon provincial health office, in a public reminder posted on its Facebook page on Good Friday, said: “Wearing a face mask, regular hand washing and avoiding crowded places can help prevent pertussis.”
The DOH said the use of face masks was voluntary but highly encouraged. “The best solution is vaccination,” the DOH said.
Dr. Ariel Valencia, DOH Calabarzon director, also stressed the importance of vaccination.
Parents and guardians are urged to check their children’s vaccination status and routine immunization schedule and to maintain distance from individuals experiencing symptoms of pertussis, Valencia said in the statement.
“Pertussis should not be taken lightly as it could lead to severe complications and even death, especially among children and infants,” he said, stressing the importance of seeking immediate medical attention once symptoms are observed.
Visayas cases
In the Visayas, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, in an interview earlier this week, said the city council approved a recommendation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) to place the city under a state of calamity due to rising cases of pertussis.
The Iloilo City Health Office (CHO)-Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, as of March 26 logged 16 cases of pertussis from Molo, Jaro, Arevalo and Lapuz districts.
Seven of these cases were confirmed by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Muntinlupa City, where samples were sent by the local health office.
“With the state of calamity status, the city government can utilize the calamity fund for the procurement of medicines and vaccines, and for other strengthened measures and responses against the infectious disease,” a statement from the Iloilo City government said.
The CDRRMC recently recommended a state of calamity to be declared so they can utilize P16 million from the Quick Response Fund (QRF) to address the spread of the pertussis.
The QRF will be used for outbreak response immunization which include additional booster, post-exposure prophylaxis for all asymptomatic close contacts and post-exposure vaccination for unimmunized or incompletely immunized, children above 10 years old who have not received vaccine in the last five years, and pregnant women in their third trimester.
In Negros Occidental province, Dr. Girlie Pinongan, provincial health officer, encouraged the public to use face masks to avoid catching the highly contagious pertussis.
Pinongan issued the reminder after a 2-month-old boy suffering from suspected pertussis was admitted at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) in Bacolod City and the declaration of outbreak in Iloilo City.
They are still waiting for the RITM test results to confirm if the infant admitted at CLMMRH is positive for pertussis.
Pinongan said getting vaccinated was the best way to protect against pertussis.
“The public are also advised to cover their mouths when they cough, observe proper hygiene and to consult a doctor should there be any symptoms or health concerns,” she said.