REGIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Iloilo City Declares Pertussis Outbreak
Photo credit: Iloilo City Government
A week after the Quezon City Government reported a surge in pertussis (whooping cough) cases, the Iloilo City Government has announced an official outbreak, signaling a concerted effort to combat the contagious respiratory disease.
The declaration, made during Monday's emergency meeting by the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, follows a recommendation from the Health and Sanitation Cluster overseen by the City Health Office (CHO).
As of March 25, the CHO has recorded a total of 15 pertussis cases, with seven confirmed and eight suspected cases. Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, leading the council, passed two crucial resolutions: one declaring the pertussis outbreak and another recommending to the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) the declaration of a state of calamity due to the severity of the situation.
Explaining the urgency, Mayor Treñas emphasized the need for accessing funds from the calamity fund, which necessitates the approval of the state of calamity declaration by the SP. A proposed budget of P16 million has been earmarked during the council meeting to address the outbreak, primarily allocated for the procurement of essential medicines and vaccines. Mayor Treñas assured flexibility in adding more funds if required to contain the outbreak effectively.
According to data provided by the CHO, confirmed cases are distributed across various districts, with three cases in Molo, two in Jaro 1, and one each in Jaro II and Arevalo. As a proactive measure, CHO Assistant Department Head Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna projected vaccination for approximately 26,000 children aged 0 to 59 months. Dr. Fortuna highlighted the significance of outbreak response immunization, extending vaccination to high-risk groups like pregnant women in their third trimester to prevent potential transmission to newborns.
Additionally, efforts to enhance testing capabilities are underway, with personnel from the Uswag Molecular Laboratory undergoing training for pertussis testing. This move aims to expedite diagnosis and reduce reliance on external facilities such as the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).
The declaration, made during Monday's emergency meeting by the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, follows a recommendation from the Health and Sanitation Cluster overseen by the City Health Office (CHO).
As of March 25, the CHO has recorded a total of 15 pertussis cases, with seven confirmed and eight suspected cases. Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, leading the council, passed two crucial resolutions: one declaring the pertussis outbreak and another recommending to the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) the declaration of a state of calamity due to the severity of the situation.
Explaining the urgency, Mayor Treñas emphasized the need for accessing funds from the calamity fund, which necessitates the approval of the state of calamity declaration by the SP. A proposed budget of P16 million has been earmarked during the council meeting to address the outbreak, primarily allocated for the procurement of essential medicines and vaccines. Mayor Treñas assured flexibility in adding more funds if required to contain the outbreak effectively.
According to data provided by the CHO, confirmed cases are distributed across various districts, with three cases in Molo, two in Jaro 1, and one each in Jaro II and Arevalo. As a proactive measure, CHO Assistant Department Head Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna projected vaccination for approximately 26,000 children aged 0 to 59 months. Dr. Fortuna highlighted the significance of outbreak response immunization, extending vaccination to high-risk groups like pregnant women in their third trimester to prevent potential transmission to newborns.
Additionally, efforts to enhance testing capabilities are underway, with personnel from the Uswag Molecular Laboratory undergoing training for pertussis testing. This move aims to expedite diagnosis and reduce reliance on external facilities such as the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).
Mar 25, 2024
