DOH: Cases Diphtheria Slightly Increases Yet No Declaration Of Outbreak
DOH – The Department on Health (DOH) recently said that the number of cases of diphtheria slightly increased but there is no outbreak yet.
The health department earlier said that cases of diphtheria have emerged in certain regions, including Cordillera Administrative Region.
Diphtheria is an infection caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae. This eventually creates a pseudomembrane, a thick covering, at the back of the infected person’s throats, which results in difficulty in breathing.
A report from Inquirer states that Eric Domingo, Health undersecretary, the country has about 150 cases of this bacterial infection.
Domingo further said that the cases are slightly higher but not higher compared to last year’s number of cases to declare that there will be an outbreak.
He added that they still receive cases of the disease but it is vital that this will be controlled immediately so that it will not spread, further adding that antibiotics will be given to all of the patient’s contacts.
As per the report, Domingo wanted to ease the public by saying that so far, no outbreaks have been declared and the disease and there is no trend that is threatening as of now.
A death of a Grade 4 student with a suspected case of diphtheria sparked worries of the massive spreading of the disease. This also resulted to a low attendance of 36 out of 160 students at Jacinto Zamora Elementary School in the Pandacen district of Manila.
Josefina de Guzman, the school nurse, said that the student was not immunized to diphtheria.
The school, then, initiated the disinfecting of facilities and organized prophylactic treatment to students. They, then posted a message in their gate that the school is now free from the disease.
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