Capitol health office: No measles outbreak in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - The provincial health officer yesterday allayed fears of a measles outbreak in Cebu.

"As of the moment, dili outbreak," Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) head Dr. Cynthia Genosolango told reporters yesterday.

The Department of Health has declared an outbreak in some parts of the National Capital Region after 744 cases of measles have been confirmed present in the area. All over the country, DOH has recorded at least 1,700 cases.

The DOH has already sent personnel to administer measles vaccine in various areas.

In Cebu, Genosolango said three measles patients have been admitted to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center's (VSMMC) Infectious Ward last Monday, but this does not constitute an outbreak yet.

Besides, she said, the patients-two adults and a child- reside far from each other in Danao, Talisay and Naga, hence, the cases can be qualified as isolated.

Still, Genosolango said the Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (PESU) continues monitoring efforts, especially that there may be unrecorded cases. She said some people who are inflicted with the illness just opt to stay home.

She said the PESU team will visit barangays to check and to provide immunization.

"We hope to be on top of that," Genosolango said, referring to the possibility of an outbreak.

She said it baffles her why they are still people who get measles despite the free immunization the government has been giving the past years, something that they would want to find out.

"We are still seeing cases measles even if the government is giving immunization. But we will see what the problems are," she said.

Meanwhile, Genosolango said measles, like dengue, used to be 'seasonal' or spreads like wildfire during the hot days. This is no longer the case these days. – (FREEMAN)