QUICK-SPREADING VIRUS A father waits for his measles-stricken child to be admitted to the pediatric ward of San Lazaro Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila. The Department of Health has declared a measles outbreak in Metro Manila and in four other regions. —RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Richard Gordon on Wednesday warned against the declaration of a state of calamity due to measles outbreak as this gives local government units (LGUs) access to calamity funds.
“This is the election period, and excuse na naman yan to spend money. What is important here is a notice to all to catch up with our immunization program,” Gordon said during a National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) meeting.
Gordon, chairman of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), also pointed out that the number of measles cases is still manageable.
“There’s no need to create a national emergency here. We’re not in danger of a pandemic or an epidemic right now,” he said.
“It’s manageable, therefore what you need right now is a call to arms to make sure that everybody is conscious of the need to immunize and that kids must be immunized,” he added.
Last week, the Department of Health (DOH) declared a measles outbreak in Metro Manila.
READ: Measles outbreak in Metro Manila — DOH
The DOH subsequently declared a “red alert” outbreak in parts of Luzon and Visayas. /gsg
READ: DOH raises measles ‘red flag’ in more regions after NCR outbreak
Data from DOH’s Epidemiology Bureau revealed that a total of 4,302 measles cases have been reported with 70 deaths from January 1 to February 9, 2019. /gsg
READ: DOH: Over 4K measles cases, 70 deaths in Philippines