DOH expands measles outbreak to other regions

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday said there are also measles outbreak in other areas in Luzon and the Visayas aside from Metro Manila.

At a press conference, Duque bared that measles outbreak have been declared in the following areas:

• CALABARZON - 575 cases with 9 deaths
• National Capital Region - 441 cases with 5 deaths
• Central Luzon - 192 cases with 4 deaths
• Region VI (Western Visayas) - 104 cases with 3 deaths
• Region VII (Central Visayas) - 71 cases with 1 death

“We are expanding the outbreak from Metro Manila to the other regions as cases have increased in the past weeks and to strengthen surveillance of new cases and alert mothers and caregivers to be more vigilant,” Duque said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) is monitoring MIMAROPA, Region I (Ilocos Region), Region VIII (Eastern Visayas), Region X (Northern Mindanao) and Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN) due to the high number of measles cases:

• MIMAROPA - 70 cases with no deaths
• Region I - 64 cases with 2 deaths
• Region VIII - 54 cases with 1 death
• Region X - 60 cases with no deaths
• Region XII - 43 cases with no deaths

“These regions should likewise step-up their response against this highly-communicable disease, as well as ensure that preventive measures play a vital role in preventing the spread of the disease,” Duque said.

“These must be emphasized to mothers and the general public as a whole,” he added.

The DOH earlier declared a measles outbreak in Metro Manila following the 550 percent increase in patients contracting the virus from January 1 to February 6 this year compared with the same period last year.

Duque said a total of 861 suspected measles cases have been reported to the DOH as of February 2.

Nationwide alert

DOH Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag earlier said they have raised a measles alert across the country following the significant increase in the number of deaths in Metro Manila.

According to Tayag, there were 55 reported deaths due to measles in NCR, with other cases still for confirmation.

The DOH took note that there has been a drop in the measles immunization coverage due to the decline of the public confidence over the government's vaccination program following the controversy over Dengvaxia.

Public Attorney's Office (PAO) chief Attorney Persida Acosta, who has been at the forefront in filing complaints against officials who had been supposedly involved in the Dengvaxia mess, said the decline of public trust on vaccines should not be blamed on them.

The DOH, meanwhile, emphasized that house-to-house vaccination programs against measles have been launched in order to curb the spike on the number of cases. —KBK/RSJ, GMA News