Per data, the immunization coverage of the region in 2023 only reached 61.36 percent or 98,795 children who received the routine dose of vaccines, which translates to the risk of children still accessing various vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD), including Pertussis.

During the presser, various government agencies and health authorities of LGUs and government-retained hospitals in the region, comprising the Regional Inter-agency Task Force (RIATF) for Infectious Diseases, were tapped to impart measures and programs being implemented to halt the further spread of the said infection.

Furthermore, the DOH WV CHD, with the support of its partners and stakeholders, provided technical assistance, including capability-building activities, for health workers to improve their immunization program and the cold-chain management of vaccines. The health department in the region will also hold a series of town hall meetings with the Health Education and Promotion Officers (HEPOs) of the LGUs and hospitals.

Recently, the member agencies and entities of the RIATF for Infectious Diseases convened virtually and signified a commitment to support the combat against Pertussis.

Meanwhile, advocacy and information dissemination efforts are being led by the CHD’s Communication Management Unit (CMU) through the release of various advisories, the conduct of pressers, and the online health talk shop MedCast.

The RESU with the help of the local health offices, on the other hand, strengthens its surveillance and reporting mechanisms through active case finding and retrospective record review, especially in areas with increasing Pertussis cases.

Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna of the Iloilo City Health Office noted that they have already requested training from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) on testing Pertussis to capacitate the personnel of the Iloilo City Molecular Laboratory and aid in the real-time confirmation of probable cases of the disease in the region.

Likewise, the health authorities in the region emphasized the importance of being alert for signs and symptoms of the disease like mild cough and cold that usually last for two weeks, followed by outbursts of cough that could last up to six weeks, whooping sounds during inhalation, vomiting, and exhaustion. For infants, a low-grade fever may be experienced with a bluish skin color or cyanosis upon coughing.

If these are observed, the health department advises parents or guardians to seek consultation at the earliest onset of the signs and symptoms to prevent further complications and the spread of the infection.

Parents are also reminded of the protection of infants who are not yet eligible to receive vaccines by not exposing them to any individual manifesting Pertussis-like signs and symptoms.

“The Department of Health Western Visayas CHD together with the local government units and partners remind the public that we are on top of the situation and just like how we fought and survived the recent COVID-19 pandemic, with your cooperation and support, we will win this fight against Pertussis,” stressed Atienza. (AAL/FRG/PIA6)