DOH Declares Measles Outbreak In A Few More Regions

Written by Marc Adrian

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in a press briefing that they are expanding the outbreak from Metro Manila to the other regions due to the increase of cases in the past weeks. This move will also strengthen surveillance of new cases and alert mother and caregivers to be more vigilant.

According to the data from DOH Epidemiology Bureau, there has been an increasing trend of measles cases as of January 26 in Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and Bicol region.

575 cases with 9 deaths and 441 cases with 5 deaths were documented in CALABARZON. Central Luzon had 192 cases with 4 deaths, Western Visayas had 104 cases with 3 deaths, Central Visayas had 71 cases and 1 death, Ilocos region has 64 cases with 2 deaths, and 54 cases with 1 death in Eastern Visayas.

Meanwhile, there were no deaths in MIMAROPA which has 70 documented cases, Northern Mindanao with 60 cases and SOCCSKSARGEN with 43 cases.

The reported cases of combined measles and rubella in 2018 ballooned to 18,026 in 2018 from only 3,804 in 2017—a 374-percent rise.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus. The disease’s complications include diarrhea, middle ear infection, pneumonia, encephalitis, malnutrition, blindness and may lead to death.  Its signs and symptoms include a cough, runny nose, red eyes, fever and skin rashes lasting for more than three days.

To help combat the recent outbreak, Duque reiterated his appeal to parents to have their children vaccinated.

“Napakahalaga po na ‘wag po nating ilito ang isyu ng Dengvaxia sa iba nating bakuna na talagang nakapag-bigay na ng proteksyon sa mahabang panahon, ilang dekada na ang nagdaan.”

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