4-month-old baby dies after getting measles; Duque spearheads mass immunization

A four-month-old baby died in Tarlac City after contracting measles, according to a report by Mav Gonzales on Balitanghali on GMA News TV on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the baby's twin, who also has measles, is still at the hospital.

According to Joshua Salvador, father of the twins, there was no symptom at first to show his babies had measles.

"Walang lumitaw na chance na magkaka-measles. Kahapon ng umaga merong lumitaw na rashes," he said.

At the Tarlac Provincial Hospital, patients are contracting measles from each other due to the lack of isolation room.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III reminded the public to practice caution as those vaccinated against measles may still get infected although mildly.

At the Baseco Compound in Manila, Duque led the mass immunization drive against measles.

Due to the measles outbreak, babies as young as six months old may receive the measles vaccine.

However, this does not mean total protection against measles as there is still a chance of infection.

"Kung hindi siya nagkaroon ng booster dose ay puwedeng mangyari [na magkaroon ng measles]. Ibig sabihin, hindi sapat 'yung kanyang antibody protection against the virus... Kahit na one shot lang [ng vaccine], mild, but the question is puwedeng magkaroon. Yes, but mild ang manifestation," Duque said.

He added that those who died due to complications from measles may not have received the measles vaccine. 

"Palagay ko wala talaga 'yung mga 'yun," Duque said.

On Saturday, the Health secretary condoled with the parents of children who died due to complications from measles. —KG, GMA News