BACOLOD City – The City Health Office (CHO) has reported its first pertussis-related death as of June 1. The victim was a six-year-old boy from Barangay Villamonte.
Grace Tan, the Environment Sanitation Division chief of the CHO, confirmed that the child had been fully vaccinated but suffered from a comorbidity. However, many of those around him had not been vaccinated.
“We can safely say that the bacteria can move around within those unvaccinated and can infect children, especially those with comorbidities and high risk,” Tan explained.
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It is characterized by severe coughing fits that can last for weeks.
Symptoms typically include a runny nose, fever, and a mild cough, which then progresses to severe coughing spells. These spells can be so intense that they cause vomiting, difficulty breathing, and exhaustion.
Pertussis is particularly dangerous for infants and young children, especially those with underlying health conditions.
From January 1 to June 1, Bacolod City recorded 16 confirmed pertussis cases. The barangays with the highest confirmed cases are Taculing (3 cases), Tangub, Villamonte, and Vista Alegre (2 cases each).
In response to the rising number of pertussis cases, the city is in the process of procuring vaccines. Tan revealed that the CHO is currently out of stock, which may have contributed to the increase in cases.
“Since early this year, the Department of Health (DOH) has not delivered vaccines for almost three months,” she said.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez stated that the city has allocated P15 million for the procurement of vaccines, despite awaiting further allocations from the DOH. The mayor emphasized the urgency of expediting the vaccination program for newborns to combat pertussis.
The pertussis vaccine is administered to children at six, 10, and 14 weeks of age, ideally completing the series within the first year of life to achieve herd immunity.
Tan urged parents to bring their children to health facilities if they exhibit symptoms such as colds, cough, and fever.
“Proper medical attention is crucial, especially with the concurrent increase in dengue cases,” she said.
How to Avoid Pertussis
Health authorities suggest that the following be practiced:
* Ensure all children receive the complete pertussis vaccination series, ideally by their first year.
* Maintain good hygiene practices, such as regular hand-washing and covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing.
* Keep children away from individuals who are known to be sick or unvaccinated.
* Seek immediate medical attention if a child shows symptoms of pertussis, such as prolonged coughing fits, difficulty breathing, or vomiting after coughing./PN
