Measles now under control, says DOH

Children inflicted with measles queue up at the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila. The Department of Health declared Measles Outbreak with the increasing number of measles patients. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The measles problem in the country has already stabilized, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

“Based on our mathematical projections, the cases have already stabilized. [The number of cases] hasn’t shot up unlike in November and December, which is good,” said Health Undersecretary Ted Herbosa.

Based on the DOH’s disease surveillance report, a total of 1,163 suspected measles cases were reported nationwide from Jan. 1 to 11, 2014. Of these, 55 (4.7 percent) were classified as laboratory confirmed (55).

Most of the confirmed cases came from Metro Manila (47 percent), Calabarzon (42 percent) and Central Luzon (11 percent).

Ages of confirmed measles cases ranged from 1 month to 35 years old. Fifty-five percent of the confirmed measles were males.

The report said 29 percent of the confirmed cases belonged to 1 year to 4 year age group.

It added that among the confirmed measles cases, 21 percent were vaccinated against measles.

Meanwhile, the DOH renewed its appeal to parents to bring their children to health centers until Feb. 3 as the department expands its measles catch-up vaccination campaign.

The expanded drive will cover two million Filipino children in Metro Manila and seven other provinces.

The campaign will now include children aged 6 months to 3 years in Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Bulacan, and Pampanga.

These areas, some of which have been declared outbreak areas, reported an increase in the number of measles cases or deaths among children 3 years old and below.

Some communities in these areas also have low vaccine coverage, high population density, and high population mobility.

The DOH also reminded local government units to strengthen other routine immunizations for children.

A nationwide measles vaccination will be conducted in September, targeting 13 million Filipino children.

“This is the long-term solution of the department for its target of a measles-free nation by 2017,” the DOH said.