BACOLOD City – The Department of Education (DepEd) here is being told to encourage students, faculty, staff, and parents to wear face masks in enclosed spaces and within the school premises to prevent the spread of pertussis.
Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) in this city passed a resolution on this yesterday, April 3, during its regular session.
The SP’s request, if granted by the DepEd, will cover both public and private schools.
The City Health Office said on Monday night it has sent specimens of four suspected pertussis cases, infants aged six weeks to two months and admitted to a hospital, for confirmatory tests to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Manila.
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
Dr. Rontgene Solante, president of the Philippine College of Physicians and an infectious disease expert, advises the public to wear a facemask since pertussis can be transmitted through respiratory droplets and that wearing a facemask is a best practice in preventing the spread./PN
