Measles remains health concern in Bicol, Caraga
The Department of Health (DOH) in Bicol and Caraga region have issued an alert after a sharp increase in measles cases were reported for the first six months of the year.
In Bicol, the health department said measles cases rose to an unprecedented rate of 1,401 percent.
Dr. Ernie Vera, the DOH director in Bicol, said 1,261 children in the region had contracted measles from January to June this year, compared to the 84 cases recorded in the same period last year.
Camarines Sur had the highest number of cases at 406. It was followed by Albay, 373 cases; Sorsogon, 243; and Masbate, 162. Fifteen had died from the disease.
Clustering
In Caraga, the Center for Health Development (CHD) reported a 506-percent increase in measles cases in the first half of 2019.
The agency monitored 1,206 cases from Jan. 1 to June 22, up from the 199 cases reported over the same period last year.
Dr. Dioharra Aparri, medical officer at the DOH Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (Resu), said a new clustering of cases had been detected from May 26 to June 22.
Majority of the new cases, Aparri said, were recorded in Agusan del Sur province, specifically in the towns of La Paz, Loreto, Rosario, San Luis and Talacogon.
CHD Caraga also recorded 20 deaths classified as “suspected measles” since the start of the year, with 18 fatalities coming from Agusan del Sur.
Among the provinces in Caraga, Agusan del Sur posted the most number of measles cases at 357. It was followed by Surigao City with 291 cases; Surigao del Norte, 160; Surigao del Sur, 109; and Butuan City, 108.
The towns of Loreto, Rosario and Talacogon in Agusan del Sur registered 29 cases from May 26 to June 22 alone, the DOH said.
Of the total number of cases in Surigao City, 17 were also recorded during the May 26 to June 22 period, it added.
Vaccination
The cities of Tandag and Bislig posted the lowest number of cases, with 17 and 16, respectively.
Aparri said the DOH Caraga had tapped nurses hired under contract to augment local health workers in conducting vaccination activities.
Vaccines have also been sent to provincial health offices for easy access by rural health units, she added.
Aparri said the DOH had sent two rapid response teams to Talacogon and Loreto towns to assist health workers.
Dr. Jose Llacuna Jr., the DOH Caraga regional director, said they were coordinating closely with local governments to conduct an intensified vaccination campaign.
The DOH has advised the public to be vigilant and refer a person showing symptoms of measles to the nearest health facility for early diagnosis and prompt treatment. Symptoms include coughs, colds, red eyes, fever and skin rashes.
“We urge parents and caregivers to protect their children from measles by having them vaccinated at the nearest health center in their locality. Also, we remind everyone to practice proper cough manners, covering the nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing,” Llacuna said.
The World Health Organization has identified measles as one of the world’s most contagious diseases. The disease is almost entirely preventable through two doses of a safe and effective vaccine, it said.
