Dengvaxia mess triggered measles outbreak, says DILG chief

MANILA, Philippines — The Dengvaxia mess triggered the measles outbreak in Metro Manila and other regions in Luzon and the Visayas, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said on Thursday.

As of Wednesday, at least 55 children died of measles in the National Capital Region, which the Department of Health (DOH) attributes to “low vaccine coverage because of the Dengvaxia scare.”

READ: DOH: 55 children dead in Metro Manila measles outbreak

“Nagkaroon ng measles outbreak because of the issue on  Dengvaxia. Natakot magpa-immune ‘yung mga magulang para sa mga anak nila, so kaya nangyari ngayon way below [than in the past] ‘yung ating statistics sa immunization,” Año told reporters.

(The measles outbreak happened because of the issue on Dengvaxia. The parents were afraid to immunize their children, that’s why now the statistics on immunization is way below [compared to previous years].)

Año said President Rodrigo Duterte ordered concerned government agencies during the Cabinet meeting yesterday to encourage parents to have their children vaccinated against the disease again.

“We will actually embark on advocacy to encourage parents to bring their children for immunization,” he said.

Aside from Metro Manila, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the DOH has also raised the measles ‘red flag’  in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and the Bicol Region.

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

The San Lazaro Hospital alone in Manila has admitted 1,504 patients for measles, including 1,355 children and teenagers. /ee