Measles outbreak also declared in other areas of Luzon, Visayas

“We are expanding the outbreak from Metro Manila to the other regions as cases have increased in the past weeks and to strengthen the surveillance of new cases and alert mothers and caregivers to be more vigilant,” the DOH chief told reporters. (Shutterstock photo)

The Department of Health (DOH) now included other areas in Luzon, Central, and Eastern Visayas as places which have measles outbreak.

This was announced by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday, February 7, during a press conference.

“We are expanding the outbreak from Metro Manila to the other regions as cases have increased in the past weeks and to strengthen the surveillance of new cases and alert mothers and caregivers to be more vigilant,” the DOH chief told reporters.

Duque revealed that as of January 26, 2019, the DOH has seen an “increasing trend” in the number of measles cases in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), and Bicol region.

The latest figures for the measles cases reported are as follows: 575 measles cases with nine deaths in CALABARZON, 441 cases with five deaths in Metro Manila, 192 cases with four deaths in Region 3, 71 cases with one death in Region 7, 70 cases with no deaths in MIMAROPA, 64 cases with two deaths in Region 1, 60 cases with no deaths in Region 10, 54 cases with one death in Region 8, and 43 cases with no deaths in Region 12.

This development came after the Health Department on Wednesday declared a measles outbreak in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Speaking with CNN Philippines, DOH Undersecretary Eric Domingo said that as of February 2, about 861 suspected measles cases all over Metro Manila have been reported to them.

He described the number as “quite high.”

Domingo noted that the cities which have the most number of measles cases are Quezon, Manila, Caloocan, Marikina, Pasig, Navotas, Parañaque, Taguig, Pasay, and Malabon.

The Health official attributed the rise in the measles cases to the low coverage of measles vaccinations.

To address this, Domingo said their teams are now going around the cities, conducting outbreak management that includes vaccination of children.

Meanwhile, Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta on Wednesday said it was “unfair” for them to be blamed for the rising measles cases in the country.

Duque earlier said Acosta’s “baseless claims and accusations” against the DOH led to the “decline in vaccine confidence and a rise in cases of measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases.” PAO has been filing complaints against incumbent and former Health officials in connection to the Dengvaxia controversy.

“Sana po si Secretary Duque, bago po siya mansisi ng iba, tignan muna niya ang pagkukulang sa kanilang kampanya sa mga subok na bakuna (I hope Secretary Duque, before he blames other, looks first at the lack of their campaign about trusted vaccines),” Acosta said.

While slamming the DOH, Acosta has appealed to parents to have their children vaccinated.

Before Acosta, President Rodrigo Duterte has previously told the parents not to fear vaccines as their children have to be immunized against other diseases.

“Yung Dengvaxia, simula nang nagkaroon ng gulo dito, maraming mga pamilya dito sa Pilipinas, hindi lang sa Malabon, na natakot dito sa vaccination at ayaw na (Since the controversy about Dengvaxia started, many families here in the Philippines, not only in Malabon, got scared of vaccination and they do not want it anymore),” Duterte said during the groundbreaking of a new hospital in Malabon City.

“Do not be lulled and be complacent about it kasi ang sanggol talaga kailangan. ‘Yung Dengvaxia lang kung ayaw ‘nyo, okay lang (because an infant needs it. If you do not want Dengvaxia, it is okay),” he added.