Measles outbreak declared in Zamboanga City

Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco declared a measles outbreak in the city due to the increase in the number of people infected by the viral disease.

In Executive Order No. BC 333-2018 dated February 9, Climaco said there were 101 suspected cases from January 1 to February 1 this year.

This translates to a 1,343-percent increase in the number of cases compared to the same period in 2017.

The current number of cases has also breached the threshold level.

Climaco said of the total number of cases, 49 percent were males and 51 percent were females.

Thirty-four of the total cases were of children aged one to five years old. "The highest proportion of cases has no history of immunization," Climaco said.

The mayor then issued the order "to institute, undertake and implement preventive and proactive measures to effectively address the same."

According to a report on News To Go on Tuesday, 42 barangays have been found affected with the viral infection. The number of cases began rising in August 2017.

Health officers in the area expressed concern that residents would not avail of their immunization program due to the Dengvaxia dengue vaccine mess.

They have started to conduct an information campaign to educate residents about the disease.

The symptoms of measles are redness of the eyes, coughs and colds, fever reaching 40 degrees Celsius, and rashes on the ears, face, neck, and the whole body. —with Anna Felicia Bajo/KG, GMA News