DOH: Pertussis, cholera cases rise as typhoid fever cases decrease in CAR

April 12, 2024 | By Ma. Angela Grace Brondial

(From left) Dr. Anachris M. Kilakil, head of Family Health Cluster, Dr. Anniline C. Teng, Dept. of Psychiatry; DOH-CAR; Victoria L. Malicdan, head of Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit; and Sean Paul C. Fiangaan, head of Local Health Systems Section as panelists in Kapihan sa Baguio, April 11. (The Companion/Ma. Angela Grace Brondial)

The Department of Health in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR) reported an increase of cases of pertussis and cholera and a decrease in typhoid fever cases in the region in a press briefing on Thursday, April 11.

Pertussis or whooping cough cases rose from 0 in 2023 to 51 from January to March 2024, said Victoria Malicdan, head of the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU) of DOH-CAR.

Baguio City reported 32 cases of pertussis, 18 in Benguet, and 1 in Kalinga. 49% belonged to the age group below 6 months old, Malicdan added. 

Cases of pertussis started to rise in February, coinciding with the start of the Panagbenga festivities and peaked in the last week of March after the Holy Week, Malicdan noted. 

Cholera cases also increased to eight in the first quarter of 2024 — five in Benguet and three in Baguio City. 

“This is 100% higher compared to the same previous last year because we have four cases of cholera last year,” Malicdan stated. 

Meanwhile, cases of typhoid fever in the region decreased despite a surge in many provinces.

Cases of pertussis, cholera, and typhoid fever in CAR in 2023 and 2024

Kalinga logged the highest number of cases in the region with 202, followed by Mountain Province with 130, and Benguet with 102. The region reported a total of 665 cases, marking a 12% drop from last year’s total of 752 cases.

The age range affected by typhoid fever spanned from four months to 92 years old. 

Malicdan said that the spread of these diseases can be prevented with vaccination, proper coughing etiquette, regular handwashing, and consuming clean water and food.