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Measles cases have more than tripled early this year — DOH


(Updated 3:50 p.m.)Confirmed cases of measles in the Philippines have more than tripled, already resulting in six deaths, the Department of Health (DOH) has reported. In a flash report on Tuesday afternoon on GMA News, Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral said that there have been 878 confirmed measles cases recorded from January to March 6. Of the 878 confirmed cases, there have been 6 dead, 5 male, and 1 female. Meanwhile, cases have reached a record 742 from January to February this year, 234 percent higher than last year's 222 cases, said the latest update from the DOH's Disease Surveillance and Informatics Division (DOH-DSID) posted on its official website. The same DOH-DSID report showed that from January 1 to February 27 this year, 742 of 1,328 suspected measles cases were confirmed. [See: DOH’s disease surveillance report table 1] NCR had the most number of measles cases at 63 percent, followed by Region IVA (10.3 per cent), Region V (7.6 percent) and Region III (5.7 percent).
Source: DOH
Ages of the confirmed measles cases range from below one month to 54 years old, with majority (40 percent) falling within the 1–4 age bracket. Sixty-eight percent of the laboratory-confirmed cases had no history of measles immunization. Areas where measles outbreaks were declared are in NCR (Manila, Alabang, Paranaque, Navotas); Tarlac (Brgy. Maliwalo, Tarlac City); Quezon province (Sitio Maalat, Brgy. Huyon-uyon in San Francisco); Rizal province (Sitio Mabolo, Brgy. Mambugan in Antipolo), Laguna province (Brgy. Pandeno in Siniloan town); Batangas province (Brgy. 7 in Tanauan); Palawan province (Calategas in Narra), Masbate province (Pinamarbuhan, Mobo, Market Site, Yugbo); Iloilo province (Walang in Lambunao and Brgy. Marandig in Calinog); and Davao del Sur (Baguio District Tambobong in Davao City). House to house vaccination To curb further spread of the disease, the DOH has begun implementing a nationwide house-to-house anti-measles vaccination drive early this month, prioritizing the areas in the list above. [See: DOH undertakes house to house measles vaccination] DOH’s national program manager Doctor Joyce Ducusin told GMANews.TV on Tuesday that the house-to-house vaccination drive is ongoing, but not without hitches. Sometimes, vaccination teams are delayed when certain children cannot be vaccinated on the spot, Ducusin. "Mayroon pa ring nami-miss na children, kapag wala yung nanay o kaya guardian, hindi pwedeng pabakunahan yun (Not all children got vaccinated during our visits due to the absence of their parents)," she said. According to Ducusin, city health offices monitor their local vaccination drives, and that children who are not vaccinated the first time will be accommodated in later visits before the vaccination team moves on to another area.

"Binabalikan talaga, 'di pwedeng mag-move sa next area, mamaya siya pala yung 'magsabog,'" said Ducusin, adding that this sometimes causes delays in the program. He added that parents or guardians occasionally refuse the free vaccination, saying some have their own private doctors. "Ang pinaka importante naman yung sa marginalized population," Ducusin said, explaining that they focus on marginalized areas. In the meantime, 37 barangays in Quezon City have reported measles cases. Data from the QC Health Department showed that from January to March 9 this year, there have been 11 confirmed and 82 suspected measles cases, a report on QTV last Monday said. In Baguio City, where house to house vaccinations are ongoing, 30,000 children have been vaccinated. However, the city's health officials say they are aiming to vaccinate 90,000 children. - LBG, RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV
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