GENERAL TRIAS CITY, Cavite — The local government unit led by Mayor Luis Ferrer IV and the City Health Office immediately took intensive action to contain the spread of pertussis in the city.

In an interview with City Health Office (CHO) head Dr. Jonathan Luseco, he said they are conducting continuous monitoring and contact tracing of previous cases.

They are also in close coordination with the barangay captains and the Department of Education regarding those who had close contacts with pertussis cases, particularly the children.

Luseco said those who had close contacts with whooping cough patients were given medical prophylaxis.

“We are now posting campaign materials and conducting massive information dissemination to the 33 villages of the city regarding pertussis. We are also using the social media page of the City Health Office and even putting flash on the LED screen of the city for the audio visual presentation about whooping cough,” the CHO head said.

Luseco added that the CHO also requested the procurement of pentavalent vaccines against five major diseases or the five in one vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B and hemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and the DTap vaccines to be administered to children six weeks to six years of age to provide immunization against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis.

GenTri City is one with high pertussis cases, recording five cases, with two dead; Bacoor with six cases; Trece Martires City with six cases; GMA – four cases; Carmona – three cases with one dead; Dasmariñas City with two cases; Kawit – two cases; Imus – two cases with one dead; Cavite City -1 case; Tagaytay – 1 case; and Bailen -1 case.

The figures were based on the March 25, 2024 data of the Cavite Provincial Health Office.

Luseco requested the City Council led by Vice Mayor Jonas Labuguen to issue an executive order or resolution in support of the provincial government’s state of calamity declaration due to the pertussis outbreak.

The CHO, meanwhile, warned against false information being spread on social media that the provincial government will implement a lockdown. It strongly denied the rumor.

Luseco explained that pertussis is an infectious disease that is deadly for infants. The bacteria spreads through breathing, coughing, and sneezing of a sick person.

Symptoms start with a cold, cough, and fever but the cough worsens over one to two weeks.

A child with pertussis develops severe whooping cough. Whooping cough is followed by wheezing and wheezing after coughing and may also cause vomiting after coughing.

Parents were advised to seek immediate medical attention if the child is experiencing severe coughing, turning black or blue or suffering from difficulty in breathing.

The CHO head said pertussis takes a long time to treat and can cause life-threatening complications such as apnea, convulsions, and pneumonia in infants.

“Go to the nearest health center to get the babies vaccinated and complete the three doses of the vaccine -1st dose 1 1/2 months; 2nd twelve 2 1/2 months; 3rd dozen 3 1/2 months,” Luseco advised parents.