MANILA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The government of Iloilo, a city in central Philippines, on Monday declared an outbreak of pertussis after it confirmed seven out of 15 reported cases, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.
Iloilo is the third city to declare an outbreak of pertussis, or whopping cough, after Quezon and Pasig, two cities in the capital region, announced last week that they have logged a total of nearly 50 cases and at least six death cases.
The Iloilo city government said it has logged 15 pertussis cases as of Monday, seven confirmed and eight suspected.
According to the Department of Health, the Southeast Asian country has logged 453 cases of pertussis this year, blaming the infection increase on disruptions in routine immunization.
Pertussis is a highly contagious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It spreads quickly from person to person, mainly through droplets produced by coughing or sneezing.
The disease can cause complications and even threaten lives, especially for babies. The best way to prevent pertussis is through immunization. ■
