Ex-Health Sec warns vs pertussis outbreak in QC

Former Health Secretary Janette Garin urged the public to take preventive measures, including vaccination, against pertussis due to an ongoing outbreak in Quezon City that has resulted in four infant deaths.

Garin highlighted that a decline in DPT vaccine uptake, exacerbated by fake news and the infodemic, has contributed to the spread of the disease.

She emphasized that vaccination is crucial for saving lives and catching up on missed immunizations.

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by Bordetella bacteria, spreading through respiratory droplets.

Symptoms typically begin with a mild fever, runny nose, and cough, progressing to a characteristic hacking cough followed by a "whooping" sound.

Garin stressed the particular vulnerability of children and infants, placing a significant responsibility on parents to protect them from contracting the illness.