Measles outbreak declared in Zamboanga City

Salazar’s order came after the City Health Office recorded 101 cases of measles from January to February 1, this year. (Shutterstock Photo)

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar issued Executive Order No. BC-333-2018, declaring a measles outbreak in this city.

Salazar’s order came after the City Health Office recorded 101 cases of measles from January to February 1, this year.

Dr. Dulce Amor Dagalea-Miravite said Wednesday that the figure was 1,343 percent higher as compared to only seven cases registered during the same period last year.

Miravite added that 49 percent of the patients were male and 51 percent female, belonging to one to five years old age group. One of them, however, is 40 years old.

Salazar’s EO included a directive to the City Health Office to institute, undertake, and implement preventive and other pro-active measures to address the measles outbreak.

Miravite said a catch-up immunization will be held from February 19 to March 22 in the different health centers and community.

Miravite said that children six months old up to 5 years old will be vaccinated with Mumps Measles and Rubella (MMR).

Measles vaccine is the last a child receives to be fully immunized.

Meanwhile, Miravite said they are tracing the cause of the measles outbreak.

She said blood samples of suspected cases were already sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine of the Department of Health (DOH). The results are expected to be released soon.

Measles is a highly communicable viral illness transmitted to direct contact with nasal or throat secretion of infected person or by articles freshly soiled with nose and throat secretion. (PNA)