By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD CITY – The City Health Office (CHO) reported on late Tuesday afternoon that the city has three confirmed cases of pertussis or whooping cough.
Dr. Grace Tan, head of the CHO Environment Sanitation Division, said the patients are from Barangays Tangub, Taculing, and Villamonte.
Tan said that of the three patients, two have been discharged from the hospital, while the other is still confined.
Two of the patients aged two-three months, while the other aged one-two months old. Close contacts of confirmed cases traced for antibiotic prophylaxis, according to Tan.
Tan said that the fourth suspected pertussis case yielded negative results.
Tan said that completion of pertussis vaccination is strongly encouraged in children under two years old.
The CHO is conducting mapping and catch up immunization for the unimmunized and incompletely immunized 0 to 23 months old children.
They are also collaborating with the Provincial Health Office (PHO) and Infectious Disease Consultants for joint guidelines, advisory and management of pertussis here and in Negros Occidental.
