DOH raises measles ‘red flag’ in more regions after NCR outbreak

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. (File photo by NOY MORCOSO / INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines – After declaring a measles outbreak in Metro Manila, the Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said it was “expanding” the declaration to other regions in Luzon and the Visayas.

“The DOH today is raising the red flag for measles in other regions of Luzon, Central and Eastern Visayas aside from [Wednesday’s] declaration in the NCR,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in a press conference.

“As of 26 January 2019, the DOH epidemiology bureau reported that the number of measles cases in other regions, namely – Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Bicol Region had shown an increasing trend,” he said.

He added that the health agency is “expanding the outbreak” to “strengthen surveillance” of measles cases as cases have increased in the past weeks.

READ: Measles outbreak in Metro Manila – DOH

He cited measles cases in different regions in the country.

The DOH recorded 525 cases with nine deaths in Calabarzon (Region IV-A); 441 with four deaths in NCR; 192 cases with four deaths in Central Luzon (Region III); 104 cases and three deaths in Western Visayas (Region VI); and 71 cases with one death in Central Visayas (Region VII).

Meanwhile, there were 70 cases with no deaths in Mimaropa (Region IV-B); 64 cases with two deaths in the Ilocos Region (Region I); 60 cases with no deaths in Northern Mindanao (Region X); 54 cases with one death in Western Visayas (Region VIII); and 43 cases with no deaths in Soccsksargen (Region XII.)

Duque said these regions should intensify preventive measure against highly infectious diseases.

“Supportive measures like building the nutritional status of the sick person and increasing oral rehydration are important measures to increase body resistance and replace lost body fluids caused by coughing, diarrhea, and perspiration,” Duque said.

The DOH is advising mothers and the public to bring their children with the first sign of fever to the nearest health facility for prompt treatment. The health agency asked the public to go the health centers and get vaccinated. /cbb