State of calamity declared in Iloilo due to pertussis

MANILA, Philippines — Iloilo City was placed under a state of calamity yesterday due to an outbreak of pertussis.

Seven confirmed cases of pertussis or “whooping cough” have been recorded in Iloilo City, prompting the city government to declare an outbreak.

The Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) convened on Monday to approve the recommendation of the health and sanitation cluster of the city government to declare the outbreak.

The confirmed cases were recorded in Molo, Jaro and Arevalo districts.

The city has logged 16 cases of pertussis so far since the start of the year.

Mayor Jerry Treñas said the CDRRMO recommended the declaration of a state of calamity.

He said the calamity declaration would allow the city government to utilize a proposed P16-million calamity fund to purchase medicine and vaccines.

Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial infection caused by Bordetella pertussis, which usually affects infants and children up to 12 years old.

It primarily affects the respiratory system, leading to severe coughing fits often accompanied by a characteristic whooping sound.

The symptoms are persistent cough for two or more weeks, mild fever and runny nose.

The city health office urged residents to be vigilant and proactive in implementing preventive measures, including vaccination and good hygiene.

Iloilo City is the first area in the Visayas to declare an outbreak of pertussis. A pertussis outbreak was earlier declared in Quezon City and Pasig.