Pertussis in the Philippines 2023
Cases and deaths up dramatically this year
Philippines health officials are reporting a significant increase in pertussis, or whooping cough cases in 2023 to date.
From the beginning of the year through November 11, 2023, authorities reported 622 cases. This is a 1,495 percent increase compared to the 39 cases reported during the same period in 2022.
Region XI, or the Davao region and Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN) reported the most cases and highest percent increase in the country, with 167 cases (16,600%) and 126 (6,200%), respectively.
The two regions reported one and two cases last year at this time.
In addition, 46 pertussis fatalities have been reported through Nov. 11, up from two deaths last year at this time, a 2,200 percent increase.
In April, Philippine General Hospital Department of Pediatrics Infectious and Tropical Disease Section chief Dr. Anna Ong-Lim said the Philippines is one of the countries with the least number of children who have received or completed their routine immunization.
As for the vaccination against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT), the Philippines is one of the countries with children completely unvaccinated in 2020.
Apart from the Philippines, the 17 million children who are unprotected against DPT are from Angola, Brazil, Dominican Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan and Nigeria.
The global immunization coverage dropped from 86 percent in 2019 to 81 percent in 2021.
To achieve herd immunity, the country’s target is to vaccinate 90 percent of the children against vaccine preventable childhood diseases like pertussis, diphtheria, measles, polio and tetanus, among others.
Pertussis is a highly contagious disease caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacteria which are transmitted via direct contact with the respiratory secretions of infected persons.
Classic pertussis symptoms include paroxysmal coughing (commonly followed by a high-pitched “whooping” sound) and post-tussive gagging or vomiting. Pertussis can cause serious illness and can be life-threatening, especially in infants. Around half of infants less than 1 year of age with pertussis require hospitalization.