Cases of coqueluche skyrocket, from 30 to 51, in Santa Cruz

In a matter of days the cases of pertussis or whooping cough in Santa Cruz skyrocketed, from 30 that were reported last week, to 51 confirmed this Monday. Health authorities ask parents to take minors to health centers so that they receive the respective vaccine dose.

According to the report of the Departmental Health Service (Headquarters) of the 51 confirmed cases of coqueluche, there are six boarding schools and two children in intensive care, currently reaching a positivity rate of 19%.

Dorian Jiménez, head of the Expanded Immunization Program (PAI), explained the importance of starting the vaccination scheme to protect newborns, remarking that due to the coqueluche emergency, the vaccination scheme should start with the first dose at a month and a half , the second dose at two and a half months, the third dose at three and a half months, the fourth dose at a year and a half to finish with the fifth dose at four years.

He also indicated that the disease is circulating in nine municipalities of the department. “It is important that the father of the family check his son’s vaccination card and if their scheme is not complete, they should go to the health center in their neighborhood and have them immunized“, said.

He added that they should be attentive children when they present symptoms of cough or fever and for no reason should they self-medicate, and rather go to the establishment of Health closest to your home to confirm or rule out the disease.

Similarly, he stressed that all health personnel in the public and private system have already been trained to clinically diagnose and laboratory test this disease and initiate appropriate treatment.