Pertussis cases still rising in Philippines– DOH

MANILA, Philippines —  Pertussis cases are still on an upward trend after data showed more than 1,500 infections were recorded as of April 13, the Department of Health said yesterday.

Albert Domingo, spokesman for the DOH, yesterday said the agency is not seeing a downward trend yet and is still waiting to see the effects of the vaccination campaign.

Domingo said as of April 13, there have been 1,566 pertussis cases recorded nationwide. A week earlier, the DOH reported 1,477 infections.

Domingo said the agency is waiting for the arrival of three million vaccines.

“We still have 5.1 million doses being procured on top of the three million pertussis vaccines,” he said.

Earlier, the DOH said it has procured three million doses of trivalent vaccines (old DPT-diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus) to be used in May and June.

The next batch consisting of pentavalent vaccines will arrive in July.