DOH-7 declares measles outbreak

DUMAGUETE CITY — The Department of Health-7 has declared a measles outbreak in this city and in six other areas in Negros Oriental.

DOH-7 Regional Director Jaime Bernadas, in his letter to Governor Roel Degamo, said the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) observed an upsurge in measles cases in the province through the past few weeks.

The DOH-7 has so far recorded 21 cases of measles: Nine in Dumaguete City, four in Bacong town, three in Mabinay, two in Siaton, one each in Sta. Catalina, San Jose, and Valencia.

Bernadas added in his letter that the outbreak will only be downgraded or lifted if no new additional cases will be recorded in the following weeks, or if there's a reduction of cases within the expected range.

However, there have been no measles related deaths in these areas so far, Dr. Liland Estacion of the Integrated Provincial Health Office said, according to an ABS-CBN News report.

DOH-Negros Oriental head Socrates Villamor, for his part, said that despite the measles outbreak in the province, there is no cause for alarm.

Villamor added that in response, health workers will begin administering the anti-measles vaccine from one house to another in the areas where the outbreak is present.

Measles is a viral disease that is highly contagious and can be fatal if left untreated. Symptoms include skin rashes, fever, colds, and cough. To prevent having the disease, the DOH highly recommends vaccination for children as young as six months old.