CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) -- With the recent rise in cases of pertussis, also known as "whooping cough," the Research, Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Disaster Response Unit (RESDRU) of the Department of Health (DOH)-10 stated the current situation of Cagayan de Oro City's pertussis cases and the role that vaccination and immunization play in containing the disease.
“Ang bakuna or ang atoang vaccination program maka-prevent gayud sa mga sakit nga grabe nga pwede ikamatay sama sa diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, ug aduna pay flu,” DOH-10 Medical Officer Dr. Elma Oclarit said during the KonsulTayo on April 5 at SM CDO Uptown.
(The vaccine or our vaccination program can prevent serious diseases that can be fatal, such as diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, and even the flu.)
She added that children as young as six weeks to three years and a half months can prevent the diseases mentioned by receiving the free pentavalent vaccine from available health centers in the Philippines.
The pentavalent vaccines, as emphasized by RESDRU-10 OIC Cluster Head Jasper Kent M. Ola, are ‘safe and effective’ in children. Oclarit mentioned that there may be a shortage of vaccines in the coming months, but they expect new sets to arrive this June.
The region has not yet experienced a pertussis outbreak, but DOH-10 is currently monitoring suspected cases. However, there were 10 reported cases of pertussis from January 1 to April 1; three were positive cases, another three were negative, and the rest were undetermined due to a lack of specimen collection.
Ola said the mode of transmission of Pertussis is through a ‘droplet.’ “Makuha siya pinaagi sa droplet. Buot pasabot, mag-istorya tang duha, kung naa koy sakit, nalawayan ka or nalagsikan ka ug laway, posible magka-pertussis ka,” Ola added.
(It can be taken by droplet. Meaning to say, if we talk, if I'm sick, you get contacted with saliva, you might get pertussis.)
He said signs and symptoms of pertussis are visible when a person has been coughing for two weeks already; there’s a possibility of vomiting when coughing, fever, and common colds.
To prevent this respiratory infection from spreading throughout the body, Ola reiterated the BIDA solution before, the common practice when coughing using a tissue or covering your mouth with your elbow, and the regular washing of hands to avoid illnesses and diseases.
“For pertussis cases, we have advised the LGUs to catch up sa ilang immunization kadtong wala mabakunahan, bakunahan. Kanang mga preventive measures, muadto gayud sa pinakaduol nga health center kung symptomatic ila children,” Oclarit added.
(For pertussis cases, we have advised the LGUs to catch up on some immunization for those who cannot be vaccinated. Those are preventive measures; go to the nearest health center if the children are symptomatic.)
This prevention and management program, which involves vaccination and immunization of children, can help prevent whooping cough and protect them from further illnesses. (MGAB/PIA-10)
