Measles cases up by 800% in Sarangani
REPORTED cases of measles in Sarangani province spiked by more than 800 percent in the last 11 months compared to the same period last year, according to the Department of Health (DoH).
The DoH’s Philippine Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (PIDSR) recorded 112 suspected cases of measles from the beginning of this year until November 17.
This is 833 percent higher than last year’s 12 cases, the PIDSR added.
Reported measles is described as any case with fever and maculopapular (nonvesicular) rash and either cough, runny nose or conjunctivitis (red eyes) while a laboratory confirmed measles is a suspected case which tested positive for measles-specific IgM antibodies or other approved confirmatory tests.
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that causes respiratory symptoms and a rash, but it is preventable with a vaccine.
Suspected measles in Sarangani killed 18 people after 84 from B’laan Tribe showed symptoms of the viral disease since the first week of November, according to the DoH.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd said the outbreak could be attributed to the dengue-vaccine, Dengvaxia, controversy, which caused fears of vaccination.
On November 28, the World Health Organization ( WHO) Philippines reported that there were over 17,200 reported measles cases in the country.
The figure is a 367-percent increase compared to last year’s number.
In its Facebook account, WHO Philippines said “Unvaccinated young children are at highest risk of measles and its complications, including death.”