An outbreak of Bordetella Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, has been reported in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro in the Eastern Cape.
Whooping cough mostly affects infants less than three months old and presents symptoms of prolonged coughs lasting more than two weeks alongside difficulty in breathing.
The metro has reported 26 cases since the beginning of the year and one fatality.
Eastern Cape Health Department Spokesperson Lwandile Sicwetsha says this is an infectious viral disease that poses a threat to communities.
“We are taking it very serious. There has already been one fatality and if it remains untreated then it will complicate into other chronic illnesses that will be very difficult and expensive to treat.”
“So, we want it to be immediately reported to our facilities so that we can quickly treat it wisely at an early stage.”
