THE Department of Health (DOH)-Davao reminded parents and caregivers to have their children completely vaccinated against diphtheria, following the death of a student in Manila.
In a statement issued on Thursday, September 26, DOH-Davao had been receiving various concerns from the public following the death of a Grade 4 student of Jacinto Zamora Elementary School.
The student experienced fever last September 13 and later on had rashes and mouth sores. She died on September 20, hours after she was clinically diagnosed with diphtheria.
DOH said infants must be given three doses of Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus (DPT) vaccine when they are age 6, 10, and 14 weeks old to prevent them from acquiring these infectious diseases.
“The Department of Health-Davao Center for Health Development (DOH-DCHD) recognizes the concerns of the public regarding the news of a suspected diphtheria case which caused the death of a Grade 4 student in Manila,” DOH-Davao said in a statement.
DOH said diphtheria is an infectious bacterial disease that is spread from person to person by respiratory droplets through coughing and sneezing. It is usually characterized by sore throat, low fever, and swollen glands, and in severe cases, causes inflammation of the heart muscle and damage in the peripheral nerves.
“Now more than ever, the importance of protecting our infants and children against vaccine-preventable diseases remains to be our ultimate goal,” DOH said.
Davao City Health Office (CHO) technical division head Julinda Acosta said they have not yet monitored any diphtheria case in the city.
She, however, said CHO is continuously strengthening its immunization program especially that the city will also have a massive anti-polio immunization starting October 14.
DOH Undersecretary Rolando Enrique Domingo, meanwhile, said in a report from the Philippines News Agency that there is no threatening trend concerning diphtheria following reports stating the emergence of diphtheria cases in several regions in the country.
Domingo said the country has around 150 diphtheria cases a year.
DOH recorded 183 cases in 2018 but only 55 of them were confirmed, including 13 deaths.