By PR | 06:25 PM April 06, 2024
Bohol so far has 17 reported incidents of pertussis with six confirmed cases and 11 suspected cases of the whooping cough this year.
This was disclosed during the April 5 edition of The Capitol Reports (TCR) entitled “What We Need To Know About Pertussis” at the Ceremonial Hall of the Provincial Capitol.
The panel of speakers included Dr. Cesar Tomas Lopez, Provincial Health Office (PHO) officer-in-charge; Machiavilla Caliao, PHO EP program coordinator nurse III; Fritzie Olaguir, PHO PESU nurse coordinator HEPO II and Dr. Jeia Pondoc, City Health Office head.
According to data provided by the PHO from January to March 2024, there have been 12 confirmed cases from January to March. All have been fully recovered with three still currently admitted and two still being monitored.
These cases are recorded from towns of Catigbian, Corella, Cortes, Dauis, Talibon, and Ubay.
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by the bacterium bordetella pertussis.
Unlikely the Covid-19, this epidemic is solely transmitted through droplets or close contact that triggers the respiratory system to collapse due to paroxysmal cough. It is the type of cough can make it hard for the affected person to breathe and is characterised by violent, intense coughing attacks that are difficult to control.
Common patients of this bacterial infection are infants up to preteen ranging from 0-12 years old due to their developing respiratory systems and low immunity.
This infection is dangerous especially for infants with 87% of the cases are aged one year old and below.
In response, Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado has ordered health authorities to respond appropriately to the threat.
According to the speakers, health authorities advised parents and soon to be parents to reach out to their nearest health centers for immunization.
Vaccine will be given to pregnant women from their first trimester or 27 weeks to 36 weeks that contains immunity for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (TDAP).
Infants as early as six weeks old will also receive pentavalent vaccine which targets five diseases in one vaccine for TDAP, hepatitis-B, and haemophilus influenzae type B given together with the immunization for oral polio vaccine and pneumococcal vaccination.
During Friday’s TCR episode, the speakers encouraged listeners and viewers to a holistic social approach, engage with the church and other faith base organizations, volunteers, and the media to disseminate awareness about the bacterial infection.
The speaker also emphasized that vaccination is free of charge and available at every Rural Health Unit (RHU) in the province and reminded listeners to follow the routine immunization for the welfare of their infants.
As pertussis is a recurring infection, immunization is highly encouraged as this is a vaccine preventable disease that may worsen and result to death if not prevented.
Sinc this infection can also be transmitted to older individuals that are immunocompromised, the PHO assured older individuals they can also receive treatment along with their family members as contact tracing is also implemented during isolation.
The PHO also encouraged the wearing of face masks inside work areas, clinics and closed areas including proper respiratory hygiene—sneezing and coughing etiquettes, hand hygiene such as handwashing, use of hand sanitizers and alcohol to disinfect hands every time.
Proper nutrition or food intake is likewise advised and to hydrate, taking more than nine glasses of water a day to prevent dehydration as the province experiences extreme heat due to El Niño. (PIMO/RJG)
