City health authorities reported five cases of pertussis or whooping cough in the city from Feb. 19 to March 27.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong said while there is still no cause for alarm, residents need to be on guard against the disease which has been causing outbreaks in different parts of the country.
Acting City Health Officer Celia Flor Brillantes said the five cases were confirmed on Feb. 19 and 27, March 6 and 13 and the latest last March 27 as per report from the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) of the City Health Services Office (CHSO).
There were no deaths.
“As of now there is no clustering of cases but we are awaiting additional confirmation of the last cases of admission last week numbering four cases,” Brillantes said.
The CESU said out of the 23 suspect cases from January to present, five were confirmed, 15 were negative, and three others are still pending. Close surveillance of new suspect cases had been done since last week.
The CHSO said it is worth noting that four out of the five cases are vaccinated, yet too young to develop immunity and protection, while one is unvaccinated due to ineligibility age-wise.
“Vaccines may not provide 100 percent protection against diseases, but they can prevent severe symptoms and death,” the department said.
Whooping cough, also known as 100-day cough, is said to be a “highly contagious infection that causes uncontrollable coughing fits. This cough is dry and does not produce mucus, can last up to one minute, and may cause the face to turn red or even purple.”
Vaccination is safe and effective against the disease.
The CHSO encourages mothers to bring their children to the nearest health centers to update their pentavalent vaccine. Adults may avail of theirs from their private doctors.
Symptomatic patients are encouraged to mask up to avoid infecting others. – Aileen P. Refuerzo
