Manila: Twenty-one people died out of 1,724 cases of measles detected in Metro Manila from January 1 to December 14 last year, a senior official said, adding that the number of cases would further escalate because the outbreak is ongoing and would peak in summer from March to May.
The Health Department has been supplying vaccines for measles to local government units since last year when the outbreak started in January 2013, said Eric Tayag, assistant health secretary, adding, “There were outbreaks last year, and it is going on right now [in Metro Manila].”
“We hope we can contain it so that we can reduce the number of children and adults getting sick this year,” said Tayag, who asked local government units to distribute the vaccines.
The government gives free anti-measles vaccines to babies. Health workers were instructed to administer vaccines at health centres.
“They were also instructed to reach out to depressed areas where parents are reluctant in bringing their children to health centres,” said Tayag.
Anti-measles vaccines were administered twice — initially to children nine to 11 months old; and when they reach 12 to 18 months of age.
