• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The confirmed cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, has risen further to nine in the highly urbanized city of Bacolod, as of April 20.
Of 28 cases, nine are confirmed, 18 yielded negative results, and there is one probable case pending laboratory examinations by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.
Based on reports of the City Health Office, the confirmed cases were reported in barangays of Tangub, Villamonte, Taculing, Handumanan, Granada and Cabug, all in Bacolod City.
Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. It is marked by a severe hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like “whoop.” Before a vaccine was developed, whooping cough was considered a childhood disease.*