- GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Pertussis-related deaths in Negros Occidental, including the highly-urbanized Bacolod City, have risen to two as of June 14.
The latest fatality is a six-year-old boy from Barangay Villamonte, according to a report of the Bacolod City Health Office.
In previous months, an infant also died of pertussis in one of the local government units in Negros Occidental, records of the Provincial Health Office showed.
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly-contagious respiratory tract infection.
Confirmed cases of pertussis in Negros Occidental have increased to 36.
Dr. Ma. Girlie Pinongan, provincial health officer, said on Friday (June 14) that of the 100 pertussis-related cases reported in the province, 50 turned out to be negative, based on the findings of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).
From January to June 1 this year, some 16 positive cases, including one death, were reported in Bacolod City.
Of the 53 probable pertussis cases, a total of 33 turned out to be negative, with four others pending for verification by the RITM. | GB
