The Philippines logged more than 1,000 cases of the highly contagious Pertussis or "whooping cough" on the first quarter of 2024, the Department of Health (DOH) said Tuesday.
Latest data by the DOH showed that a total of 1,112 cases have been recorded nationwide from January 1 to March 30, 2024.
Meanwhile, 54 individuals have died this year due to pertussis.
In the past six weeks, DOH reported that Eastern Visayas, Cagayan Valley, Caraga, Central Luzon, and Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) all showed a “continuous increase” in the number of cases.
“The DOH is cautious in interpreting trends. The number of cases may still change as there may be late consultations and reports,” the agency said.
On Monday, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa revealed that there may be a shortage of pertussis vaccines in May amid the outbreak of the respiratory infection in some parts of the country.
In late March, the Quezon City LGU declared a pertussis outbreak.
The DOH defines pertussis as a highly contagious bacterial disease caused by a bacteria called Bordetella pertussis, and this can be transimitted through droplets produced from sneezing or coughing.
Symptoms include runny nose, low-grade fever, mild and occasional cough, and apnea.
