Philippines hit by deadly measles outbreak
Most of the cases were children who had not been administered with shots
Manila: President Rodrigo Duterte has issued orders to health officials to take action to stem the outbreak of measles in the country after cases of the disease ballooned with several reported deaths.
“The President was saddened by the report issued by health officials during the recent Cabinet meeting that cases of the highly transmissible condition went up,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said during a televised press briefing at the palace on Thursday.
“He’s saddened so he said it should be addressed immediately,” Panelo said.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) “measles is a highly contagious viral disease,” characterised by high fever, a runny nose, bloodshot eyes, and tiny white spots on the inside of the mouth.
“It remains an important cause of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine.”
In the Philippines, the government had made available vaccines to the public as part of its health plan, however, parents had thought twice about having their children vaccinated out of fear involving recent failed immunisation programmes, particularly that involving Dengvaxia, a vaccine for dengue fever.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday, also raised today the red flag for measles in other regions of Luzon, Central and Eastern Visayas aside from yesterday’s declaration in the National Capital Region.
“As of 26 January 2019, the DOH (Department of Health) Epidemiology Bureau reported that the number of measles cases in other Regions, namely — Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and Bicol region, have shown an increasing trend,” he said.
He pointed out that validated data from the Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal and Quezon region (CALABARZON) was 575 cases with nine deaths which is a 2,538 per centincrease as compared to 21 cases of 2018.
In the National Capital Region, where were 441 cases with deaths---showing a 1,125 per cent increase as compared to 36 cases of 2018.
Central Luzon had 192 cases with four deaths---a 500 increase compared to 32 cases of 2018, Region “We are expanding the outbreak from Metro Manila to the other regions as cases have increased in the past weeks and to strengthen surveillance of new cases and alert mothers and caregivers to be more vigilant,” Duque said.
Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chair, Richard Gordon said they are ready to provide medical interventions, including the establishment of a 100-bed emergency medical unit (EMU) and welfare desks at San Lazaro Hospital in Manila to handle case.
“We need to work together to assist the families affected by the measles outbreak. When we visited the SLH at midnight, we saw two or three children sharing one bed with parents also sharing the space. What was a usually room for two or three patients now accommodate up to 10 children. Even hallways are now being used,” Gordon said.
According to Dr. Barbra May Banaobra, infectious disease fellow, majority of the cases were children who have not had immunisation shots.