The Cavite province has been placed under a state of calamity due to the pertussis or whooping cough outbreak.
Members of Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved Resolution No. 3050-2024 declaring a state of calamity in the Cavite province during the fifth special session on Wednesday, March 27.
Under Resolution No. 3050-2024, it was cited that the Provincial Health Office recorded 36 pertussis cases in Bacoor, Trece Martires, General Mariano Alvarez, Carmona, Silang, Dasmarinas, Kawit, Imus, Cavity City, Tagaytay, and General Emilio Aguilance.
Of the 36 pertussis cases, six individuals reportedly passed away.
“With such risks posed by the said outbreak, it is deemed appropriate that the Province of Cavite be placed under a state of calamity and necessary funds shall be utilized to provide an effective response in addressing the same,” the resolution reads.
Forty million pesos from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund’s Quick Response Fund shall be used to respond to the calamity.
The city governments of Iloilo and Quezon City have respectively declared a pertussis outbreak following the rising cases of the respiratory infection.
The Department of Health (DOH) stated earlier that three million vaccine doses against pertussis will arrive in the country "at the soonest possible time."
According to DOH, pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial disease caused by a bacteria called Bordetella pertussis, and this can be passed through droplets produced from sneezing or coughing.
