MANILA, Philippines ? The Makati Health Department has intensified its campaign against the spread of measles in the city, going on a house-to-house drive in different barangays to monitor cases and immunize children against the disease.

City health chief Dr. Ma. Lourdes Salud said in a statement that teams had been formed to go to areas where cases had been reported.

?We are on active surveillance mode but we are also appealing to all parents to immediately bring their children to the nearest health center or hospital the moment they show measles-like symptoms, including high fever,? she said.

Salud added that of the 25 cases reported in the city, only one has been confirmed based on tests done at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine where blood samples tested positive for measles.

The victim, a 3-year-old girl who had not been vaccinated against the disease, was recovering upon receiving proper medical attention.

Salud said the city had been able to reduce the number of cases in the city through its anti-measles campaign dubbed ?Ligtas Tigdas.? As a result, from 109 cases in 2003, only four cases were reported last year based on records.

?We are getting closer to our goal of eradicating measles and we are confident that through intensified immunization drive and strict monitoring, we will be able to prevent the disease from spreading in Makati on a larger scale,? she said.

Last month, the Department of Health warned the public against a nationwide measles outbreak following an above normal increase in the number of cases reported in just one month.

Officials attributed the hike in cases to rising temperatures due to the El Niño phenomenon.

Measles is a contagious disease, affecting mostly children. Initial symptoms include high fever, runny nose, bloodshot eyes and tiny white spots on the walls of the mouth. Rashes on the skin also develop after several days.