DOH deploys diphtheria team

The Department of Health (DOH) has deployed a surveillance team to Makati City to investigate the cases of diphtheria reported in several barangays.

Dr. Joyce Ducusin, medical specialist of the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control, said the surveillance team is composed of epidemiologists from the DOH- National Capital Region and the city health department.

The team will also look for individuals who may had direct contact with the patients for proper management of the disease.

Ducusin said the health department has procured penicillin to be given to individuals who have had direct contact with patients to prevent the spread of bacterial infection.

"Considering they (Makati) had no cases of diphtheria in the past years, it is alarming and a worst case scenario is expected if not detected," Ducusin said in a telephone interview.

According to Ducusin, there is a low incidence of diphtheria nowadays, but the reported cases are considered alarming.

She explained that the risk of diphtheria is high among six to 14-week-old infants who have not been immunized against the disease.

The DOH advised the immunization of infants, who are 6, 10 and 14 weeks old, against diphtheria while those who have had direct contact with patients are advised to start medication.