DOH records over 1,000 pertussis cases in Q1

MANILA, Philippines — Cases of pertussis or whooping cough continue to increase with over 1,000 infections recorded since January, according to the Department of Health.

DOH data showed that from Jan. 1 to March 30, up to 1,112 cases of pertussis have been reported nationwide.

The figure is almost 34 times more than the 32 cases recorded during the same period last year.

The DOH recorded 54 fatalities, all children aged below five years, from pertussis.

“The World Health Organization Regional Office in the Western Pacific confirmed on April 5 that measles and pertussis are concerns of many countries, because lockdowns during the COVID pandemic hampered routine vaccination,” the DOH said in a statement.

Vaccines, antibiotics

Meanwhile, the Quezon City government has received some P13 million worth of vaccines and antibiotics it earlier procured to prevent and treat pertussis.

Mayor Joy Belmonte said the city government procured more than 3,500 vials of 6-in-1 vaccine and over 1,000 bottles each of antibiotics Azithromycin and Clarithromycin to address the pertussis outbreak.

“We have approved the purchase of needed vaccines and antibiotics so we can immediately provide the required medical attention to current cases and protect our QCitizens from further spread,” Belmonte said.

“We are planning to purchase more should the need arise, given that the national government has limited supply of the vaccines,” she added.

The vaccines – which will also protect recipients against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, haemophilus influenza and hepatitis B – will be given to infants and children aged six weeks and above, who have not been inoculated from the diseases.

Antibiotics will be prescribed to pertussis-positive patients.

“Upon arrival of the vaccines and medicines, we immediately delivered it to our health centers, especially in areas with high number of pertussis cases,” Belmonte said in Filipino.

As of April 5, the city’s epidemiology and disease surveillance division reported 41 pertussis cases including six fatalities. More than half of the cases involved infants or children.

The local government earlier declared a pertussis outbreak and mobilized its resources to prevent further spread of the infection.

Last week, Belmonte met with Health Secretary Ted Herbosa to discuss the local government’s response to the outbreak.

In the past six weeks, regions that logged continuous increase in the number of cases were Eastern Visayas, Cagayan Valley, Caraga, Central Luzon and the Cordilleras.

Of the total pertussis cases recorded so far, 77 percent involved children below five years old. Adults aged 20 and above account for only around four percent of the cases.

Vaccine shortage

At a recent briefing, Herbosa said they expected a shortage in pertussis vaccines by May.

“We anticipate a shortage in government pentavalent vaccine supply by May, and this is the gap we are now addressing. We will have another type of vaccine, the older DPT – diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus,” Herbosa said.

“Also, there are pentavalent and TDaP (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccines available for purchase in the private sector. There is no physical shortage. We will welcome any offer of support and assistance from our private sector partners,” he added.

The DOH advised the public not to rely solely on herbal medicines to cure pertussis as it can only ease the symptoms.

Herbosa said that medicinal plants such as lagundi and sambong are for symptomatic treatment only.

“It should be antibiotic. I’ve said pertussis is caused by a bacteria,” he said.

Herbosa said herbal medicine would only alleviate the symptoms such as cough and fever, but not really cure pertussis. — Janvic Mateo