Measles cases in CV ‘declining’

The health department in Central Visayas has noted a downtrend of measles cases this month.

However, the declaration of measles outbreak in some areas in the region has yet to be lifted.

Dr. Shelbay Blanco, cluster head of Department of Health-7’s Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, said number of reported measles cases has been declining.

“Measles cases are slowly decreasing this month compared to the previous months,” he told reporters.

The decrease can be attributed to the strengthened efforts and initiatives by all health units.

DOH-7 conducted a “catch-up” immunization, a house-to-house vaccination on those who missed the routine shot.

Aside from the immunization, the health department has also been holding measles and vaccination awareness campaigns in villages.

Blanco said parents and guardians play an important role in protecting their children from this disease.

Measles, according to World Health Organization, is a highly contagious and serious disease caused by a virus.

It is one of the leading causes of death among young children and so measles vaccines were created to prevent this event and the epidemic.

DOH data showed a total of 247 cases, including one fatality, from January 1 to July 21 this year, way higher than last year’s 37 cases.

Majority of the cases were reported in Negros Oriental province, where an outbreak was earlier declared, registering at least 140 individuals. It is followed by Cebu with 53 cases.

At least 38 cases were reported in Siquijor, while 14 were reported in Bohol.

Blanco said most of these cases are still suspected measles infection, but some were already confirmed through laboratory tests.

He said DOH-7 is still monitoring other reported cases, adding that the declaration of an outbreak remains until the region is measles-free.

The sudden increase of measles cases this year had been attributed to the low acceptance of people of the free immunization in the local health centers, Ruff Vincent Valdevieso, DOH’s Expanded Immunization Program coordinator, earlier said.

He said the problem boils down to parents, guardians, or adults who refuse to let their children receive the free vaccine even if health personnel put in extra effort to convince them.

Many people reportedly declined such service after the so-called Dengvaxia scare. The dengue immunization program became controversial in 2017 after the developer revealed that its vaccine poses a risk to people without a history of dengue. —