Measles cases up 300 to 400% at San Lazaro Hospital

The number of measles cases at the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila in early 2019 has increased by 300 to 400 percent the number of such cases reported for the same period last year.

In an interview on "Balitanghali" on Thursday, hospital spokesman Dr. Ferdinand De Guzman said 57 measles patients, mostly children, have died as of Wednesday night.

"Lumalagpas po sa 300 to 400% as high as 500% sa cases namin last year. Kasama na po doon ang namatay," De Guzman said.

De Guzman said many parents had been afraid of having their children vaccinated because of the Dengvaxia scare.

Cases have been filed against former health officials for deaths that have linked to the government's discontinued anti-dengue immunization program using Dengvaxia.

"'Pag tinatanong namin mga magulang, yung mga caregivers, natakot daw po sila sa scare brought about by the Dengavaxia vaccine pero in-explain po namin," De Guzman said.

The anti-measles vaccine, said de Guzman, is one of the oldest vaccines and has been used for years already.

"Matagal na po yan binibigay ng Department of Health (DOH). Libre pa po 'yan so all they have to do is dalhin mga bata, lalo na mga bata kasi sila po ang pinaka high risk," De Guzman said.

"Dalhin sa health centers dahil free po ito, so libre po ang vaccine na po ito," he added.

He said anti-measles vaccines may already be given to babies as young as six months old due to the DOH's declaration of a measles outbreak.

De Guzman said another excuse given by parents for not having their children immunized against measles was the long queues at government health centers.

"The only way pa rin sa paghinto sa pagdami ng cases of measles, mga  komplikasyon which might lead to death na nakamamatay ay ang pagbakuna parin po," De Guzman said.

"Sa mga na expose po, open po ang centers ngayon everyday because there is an outbreak of measles so dalhin lang po nila. Minsan mga centers willing po sila to work overtime, maghintay kung meron dadating kahit magsasara na," he added.

Those who have been exposed to the illness were advised to be isolated and observed for signs of measles such as fever, coughs, colds, rashes, and redness of eyes.

If the symptoms appear, make sure to bring the patient to the nearest health care facility for monitoring.

According to DOH, the measles outbreak has already spread outside of Metro Manila in Luzon and the Visayas with total of 861 suspected measles cases as of February 2. —Kaela Malig/NB, GMA News