The number of whooping cough cases in Vanuatu has risen to 270 cases in Tanna, Tafea Province and Efate, Shefa Province.
Since July this year, cases of 176 were recorded and has eventually increased to 270, dated to 26th of September, according to the Ministry of Health (MOH).
Shefa Province has seen an increase in Efate from 38 to 93 cases, with identified hotspot areas as Mele, Erakor, Eratap, Eton, Malorua, Pango, and Port Vila.
On Tanna, cases have also increased from 141 to 177, affecting South Tanna, Southwest, Whitesands, West Tanna, Middle Bush, and North Tanna.
As stated by MOH, cases on Efate are considered ‘epidemiologically’ linked to the Tanna outbreak.
Most of the suspected reported cases involves children who have not received their pentavalent vaccine.
This vaccine is given to infants at 6 weeks, 10 weeks, and 14 weeks old to prevent them from diseases such as whooping cough.
Health authorities say the immunization response continues, with support from UNICEF, World Health Organization (WHO) and the Vanuatu-Australia Health Program (VAHP).
MOH is urging all parents to ensure that children under five years old receive their pentavalent vaccine to prevent further infections.
So far, three deaths have been confirmed on Tanna.
