Five confirmed dead due to measles, DOH says

Five have been confirmed dead due to measles, a dzBB radio report said, citing a Department of Health (DOH) official. Of the fatalities, three were eight-month-old male infants, while the remaining two females were 11 and two years old respectively, the DOH’s National Epidemiology Center Chief Dr. Eric Tayag was quoted as saying. Four of the victims were from Tondo while the youngest female was from Quiapo, Tayag told GMANews.TV that of the 5, 4 were from Tondo. According to the report, there have been 742 confirmed cases of measles nationwide from January 1 to February 27. The figure is 234 percent higher than the same period of last year with 222 cases, the report also said. Barangay Siyete in Tanauan, Batangas, and Catanega in Palawan were declared to have a measles outbreak, in addition to the previous list of areas. An earlier report said that these areas include Baseco Compound and Moriones in Tondo, Manila; Barangay Pulang Lupa in Las Piñas City; Balabagan town in Lanao del Sur; Central Market in Dasmariñas, Cavite; and San Francisco town in Quezon. The DOH will investigate if the measles strain is coming from inside or outside the country. DOH also confirmed that from January to 27 February, there have been 46 dead from dengue with 6,236 cases, This is 11 percent higher than the 5,000 cases last year, with the highest incidence in NCR at 1,240 cases, followed by Region 7 and Region. The DOH began a massive anti-measles household drive last week, which Makati City was seen implementing over the weekend. The DOH will intensify its efforts in the campaign against measles, and it is currently awaiting reports on how many children have received the vaccine, Tayag told GMANews.TV. Tayag also said that the household vaccination drive is scheduled by the respective local governments. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV