Pertussis cases dip to 19 in August, DOH says

The number of “whooping cough” or pertussis cases nationwide has continued to decrease, with only 19 patients recorded from August 4 to 17, 2024, the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday.

Latest data by DOH showed that case trends for pertussis remain “low,” from 131 cases logged on July 7-20, down to 77 cases on July 21-August 3, and eventually to 19 cases on August 4-17.

However, four regions, namely National Capital Region, Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, and Davao Region, were observed to have an increase in cases in the past six weeks counting back from August 17.

A total of 3,827 pertussis cases were recorded so far in 2024, mostly in March and April. This was around 13 times higher than the 291 cases reported in the same period last year.

In March, DOH raised the code blue alert and established a Public Health Emergency Operations Center to bring down the cases of pertussis and measles nationwide. This signaled intensified activities to mitigate the spread of the disease through vaccination, micronutrient supplementation, community engagement, and risk communication.

Three months later, the DOH declared the deactivation of the code blue alert at its central office as it recorded a continuous decrease in pertussis and measles cases since it implemented an intensified vaccination against the contagious diseases.

As to vaccines, DOH noted that 500,000 doses of pentavalent or 5-in-1 jabs that could protect against pertussis, as well as from diphtheria, tetanus, Hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B (DPT-Hep B-HiB) arrived this month and are now in cold storage.

Another 750,000 doses of pentavalent vaccines are also set to arrive next week.

DOH said they would finalize paperwork first before they distribute the vaccines to government health centers across the country.

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa also tasked relevant DOH units to ensure “that the balance of doses are delivered [as soon as possible].”

“The contracted supplier has started delivery of the Pentavalent vaccines that will protect young Filipinos starting six weeks of age. DOH will ensure that all the ordered doses will get to government health centers at the soonest," Herbosa said in a statement. --VAL, GMA Integrated News