By JEN BAYLON

The Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office (PHO) said another infant died due to suspected pertussis or whooping cough, as they waited for the patient’s confirmatory test results.

PHO head Dr. Girlie Pinongan said yesterday a two-month-old girl died at a district hospital on Tuesday, April 16.

Pinongan said the specimens were sent for confirmatory tests at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

As of April 17, Negros Occidental has recorded 39 pertussis cases with two deaths.

Of the number, eight are positive, 13 are negative and 18 are considered probable cases.

The majority of the cases were reported in children aged one to nine months.

The local government units which reported confirmed pertussis cases are the municipalities of Murcia, Cauayan, Hinoba-an, and E.B. Magalona, as well as the cities of Victorias, Silay and Cadiz.

Earlier this week, the PHO confirmed that a one-month-old boy died due to pertussis at Corazon Locsin Montelibano Regional Hospital in Bacolod City.

Health authorities are closely monitoring the situation and implementing preventive measures to control the spread of pertussis.

They also urge parents to get their children vaccinated against diseases, including pertussis.

Additional 10,000 doses 

Meanwhile, the Negros Occidental provincial government has purchased an additional 10,000 doses of pentavalent vaccine to prevent the spread of pertussis and other illnesses among children.

“Ang province naghatag budget for additional vaccines, for 10,000 doses,” Pinongan said.

Pinongan emphasized the importance of vaccinations for children, as they are more vulnerable to diseases, including pertussis.

She also advised the public to wear masks when they go out to minimize the risk of transmission.

Pentavalent vaccines protect against diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, hemophilus influenza type B, and pertussis.

Furthermore, the Bacolod City government will also buy 10,000 doses of pentavalent vaccines worth P15 million to curb cases of pertussis in the city.

The city government targets to vaccinate 3,300 children below five years old, who will be administered up to three doses.

City Health Office (CHO) head Dr. Ma. Carmela Gensoli said the vaccine supply could be depleted in the next months due to continued vaccination coverage mapping.

Gensoli earlier said there is no clustering of cases in the city, following the increase in the number of pertussis cases to six.

The CHO does not recommend declaring a pertussis outbreak in the city, as the cases are few, and the situation is manageable./JB, WDJ