DOH: Pertussis cases 'plateauing’ in NCR

The number of pertussis or whooping cough cases in Metro Manila is plateauing even as other regions reported an increase in cases, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.

DOH Undersecretary Eric Tayag said that many areas in the country are on alert due to the transmission of pertussis, particularly among children, and the DOH is expecting the numbers to still rise.

“Halos 10 rehiyon ang may pagtaas sa kaso ng pertussis. Dito sa NCR, nagpa-plateau. Ibig sabihin, hindi tumataas kagaya ng inaasahan natin,” Tayag said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview.

(About 10 regions had an increase in pertussis cases. In NCR, cases are plateauing. This means that the cases in NCR are not not increasing as much as we expected.)

A total of 453 Filipinos nationwide were infected by pertussis within just the first 10 weeks of 2024. Of these, 38 cases were reported in the National Capital Region alone, followed by Calabarzon and Central Visayas.

Of these, 35 cases have died, according to DOH.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Thursday declared a pertussis outbreak  in the city after 23 cases were reported as of March 20.

Tayag said the Quezon City government made an “emergency purchase” of the vaccine to counter pertussis, even as the DOH already provided 1,500 doses to the city.

“Baka may mga karatig pook o ibang lugar, katulad nung isang linggo, na kung saan ang Iloilo City ay nagpipintong magdeklara ng outbreak din sa pertussis,” he added.

(There might be other areas that may declare an outbreak. Last week, Iloilo City was about to declare a pertussis outbreak as well.)

Pertussis may be transmitted when an infected person sneezes or coughs. It also causes influenza-like symptoms like mild fever, colds, and coughs seven to 10 days after exposure.

Children with pertussis may also experience apnea or the stopping and restarting of breathing while asleep, difficulty in breathing, and vomiting.

DOH has repeatedly urged parents and guardians to get children aged 6 weeks to 23 months old the pentavalent vaccine for Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus, Hepatitis B, and Haemophilus Influenza type B (DPT-HepB-HiB).

DOH has ordered 800,000 to 1 million doses of these vaccines which are expected to arrive in the country by June.

Tayag clarified that there would be no lockdowns or mandatory wearing of face masks again due to the rise of pertussis cases.

However, the DOH still encouraged the public to practice voluntary use of a face mask, staying at home when sick, cleaning hands often, and choosing areas with good airflow, to help protect themselves against pertussis and other respiratory infections.—RF, GMA Integrated New