This footage was filmed and produced 28 March 2024.

An alarming number of pertussis or whooping cough cases have been recorded in the Philippines as several cities have declared an outbreak with dozens of children continuing to contract the illness.

Quezon City, the largest metropolitan area in the Philippines, is the first city to declare an outbreak of pertussis on March 21.

The city's health office is on high alert as reports of infections and deaths continue to escalate. Most of the victims who succumbed to the disease were infants and toddlers.

"We have unprecedented number of cases this year. So coming from a zero case on the same period last year and then of course the deaths. Also at the time of the declaration, we received already four deaths now. That's actually triggered our declaration of the outbreak," said Dr Rolando Cruz, an epidemiologist at Quezon City Health Department.

Parents are alarmed over the outbreak. They are bringing their children who have colds and flu-like symptoms.

Pertussis is a contagious respiratory disease that can be transmitted through coughing or sneezing. It can be cured with antibiotics and is preventable through vaccination. That's why parents like Sarabia Eleanor brought her baby for a jab of pentavalent vaccine.

"We're terrified. That's why we don't let our relatives or anyone who comes to our house get close to our baby or kiss her. It's like we're back in quarantine. We use alcohol wipes and wear masks again, just as we did during the pandemic," said Eleanor.

Several cities followed suit and declared outbreaks in their municipalities. The national health department said the number of cases around the country increased 20-fold this year over last year. Sixty percent of the infected are infants below six months.

There's shortage of pentavalent vaccines across the Philippines. The government has purchased eight million vaccines that will be arriving next month. For now, the health department is asking parents to be vigilant and immediately seek medical treatment for their children with pertussis symptoms.

SHOTLIST

Manila, Philippines - March 28, 2024
1. Various of traffic, pedestrians;
2. Women holding babies on street;
3. Various of Quezon City Health Department;
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Rolando Cruz, epidemiologist, Quezon City Health Department:
"We have unprecedented number of cases this year. So coming from a zero case on the same period last year and then of course the deaths. Also at the time of the declaration, we received already four deaths now. That's actually triggered our declaration of the outbreak.";
5. Various of pedestrians, children;
6. Various of parents taking babies to hospital, injection;
7. SOUNDBITE (Tagalog) Sarabia Eleanor, patient's mom (starting with shot 6/ending with shot 8):
"We're terrified. That's why we don't let our relatives or anyone who comes to our house get close to our baby or kiss her. It's like we're back in quarantine. We use alcohol wipes and wear masks again, just as we did during the pandemic.";
8. Various of parents, children at hospital;
9. Various of pedestrians.

[RESTRICTIONS: No access Chinese mainland]