MANILA — A former government health adviser on Tuesday urged residents in areas where pertussis outbreak has been declared to wear face masks to prevent the further transmission of the respiratory illness.

Quezon City and Iloilo City have declared an outbreak of pertussis or whooping cough. Other areas in Metro Manila such as Pasig City have also seen a rise in cases.

Speaking on ANC, health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon said people in outbreak areas should "put on their face masks" and observe minimum public-health measures as the Philippines awaits more vaccines against pertussis.

Leachon also said that he would recommend the reimposition of mandatory wearing of face masks in public spaces, saying adults could be carriers of pertussis. 

"Very important also that we cover the nose and mouth because these will be the sources of infection," he said. "Washing of hands is important, just like during the pandemic."

Pertussis, or tusperina in Filipino, is a highly contagious bacterial infection that is vaccine-preventable. It spreads through droplets produced from coughing or sneezing.

WATCH: What is pertussis?

Some 453 pertussis cases — with 35 deaths — were reported in the first 10 weeks of 2024 across the country, the Department of Health said. During the same period last year, the agency only recorded a total of 23 pertussis cases.

Dr. Rontgene Solante, an infectious diseases specialist, said pertussis infection could cause complications leading to death, especially among young children and infants.

The resurgence of pertussis is seen by doctors and health advocates as a setback to decades of progress made against vaccine-preventable illnesses partly due to vaccine hesitancy driven by misinformation and disinformation.

The DOH meanwhile has attributed the spike in pertussis cases to the disruption in routine vaccinations in children brought by pandemic lockdowns. 

"Get your kids vaccinated, if there are supplies in your LGU. So many kids skip routine vaccination during the lockdowns… you have to go back to your health centers because they are free," Leachon said.

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Meanwhile, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said the declaration of a pertussis outbreak in his area would allow the local government to access funds needed to respond to the spread of the bacterial infection. 

The city has logged 15 confirmed pertussis cases and eight suspected cases of the illness.

“May amount kaming naaprubahan – a total of P16 million. A big portion will go to medicines and vaccines. And if necessary, we will add more funds,” Treñas said. 

(We have an approved amount which totals P16 million. A big portion will go to medicines and vaccines.) 

In Metro Manila, 111 cases of the illness were logged in the first 12 weeks of 2024 alone — higher compared to the 5-year average prior the pandemic, data from the health department showed.

Metro Manila Council Chairman and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said response to pertussis required more than just vaccination.

“What we really need is to inform the public ano ba itong pertussis. Kahit ako aminado ako na nitong mga nakaraang araw tsaka ko lang nalaman kung ano ang sakit na ito. Kaya mahalaga na magkaroon tayo ng massive information campaign sa mga local government units,” he said.

(What we really need is to inform the public about what pertussis is. Even I admit that I only learned about this disease in the last couple of days. It’s really important that we have massive information campaigns in local government units.)

-- With a report from Raphael Bosano, ABS-CBN News