Measles outbreak: 215 deaths, over 13K affected from Jan 1 to Feb 26 – DOH

MANILA, Philippines – In less than two months, 215 people have died due to measles as more than 13,000 have contracted the airborne disease, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday.

Based on the latest report of DOH’s Epidemiology Bureau, a total of 13,723 persons had measles and 215 of them died since January 1. The report covers data up to February 26.

The highest number of fatalities and measles cases was recorded in Calabarzon with 68 and 3,234, respectively, the report said.

It was followed by the National Capital Region (NCR) with 57 deaths and 3,068 cases of measles.

According to DOH, the most affected age group was between 1 and 4 years old with 4,190 cases (31 percent), followed by patients less than 9 months old with 3,555 cases (26 percent).

DOH also said that 176 persons or 79 percent of those who died from measles as well as 8,549 people or 62 percent of those who contracted the disease were not vaccinated.

The health department declared a measles outbreak in Metro Manila and parts of Central Luzon and Central Visayas in early February as measles cases rose sharply in those areas. /kga

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