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Measles resurgence noted in Iloilo province


Health officials have noted resurgence in measles cases in Western Visayas, with the province of Iloilo topping the list with 33 out of the 41 confirmed measles laboratory results. Dr. Renilyn Reyes, regional coordinator for the Expanded Program for Immunization (EPI), had noted there were no recorded measles cases in Iloilo and Panay last year. Reyes said Antique, Capiz and Negros Occidental have three cases each of measles and Guimaras has five, according to a report on Iloilo-based news site The News Today. Iloilo alone registered 33 cases, the report said. She said measles ranks as one of the leading causes of childhood mortality in the world, and is considered as a “vaccine-preventable disease." Reyes attributed the resurgence of measles cases in Western Visayas in the “accumulation of susceptibles." From 2005 until 2007, there are no confirmed measles cases in Western Visayas. In 2007, the government launched a mass immunization program to prevent its resurgence. The “Knock-out Tigdas" program was purposely designed to anticipate the resurgence of the disease, said Reyes. With the increasing measles cases in the region, the Health Department asked local government units to help in the measles elimination campaign. - GMANews.TV

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