Measles outbreak declared in Bohol

CEBU, Philippines - A measles outbreak has been declared by regional health authorities in a coastal village in Ubay, Bohol.

Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit of the Department of Health Central Visayas has already conducted a site investigation into the 31 suspected measles cases.

“Last week, didto na atong team to investigate the situation. Duna ta’y 31 suspects nga kasagaran unimmunized. Some are transients, some against sa ilang religious belief,” RESU chief epidemiologist Rennan Cimafranca said.

At least 80 percent of the affected residents never submitted to routine immunization of the government since this was not allowed in their religious denomination.

Cimafranca added that refusal of the residents to submit to the immunization is a challenge to the DOH as well as to the local government unit and the officials of Barangay Sinandigan.

“The local health unit reported to RESU. What happened was while arranging for the barangay’s schedule for the nationwide mass immunization on measles and polio at the end of September, they found out about the cases. What we did was, gi-coincide na lang sa mass immunization ang outbreak response immunization,” Cimafranca said.

The nationwide month-long mass immunization last September only covered children aged nine months to five years old.

Cimafranca said they expanded the coverage of the outbreak response immunization as measles vaccine included six months to nine months old, measles-rubella vaccine covered one year to 15 years old.

The youngest patient is a four month-old baby while the oldest is 28 years old.

Of the 31 measles suspects, 35 percent are adults, 40 percent young adults, and the rest are children.

The affected community covered three puroks in the coastal barangay of Sinandigan. Despite being on an outbreak status, Cimafranca said all patients were not admitted to the hospital and were only checked and treated by health personnel as outpatients.

Bohol Provincial Health Officer Dr. Reymoses Cabagnot said the reason behind the cases of measles was not yet known since the result is not yet available.

The Rural Health Unit in Ubay town, as well as other RHUs in the province, is also monitoring and coordinating with the province on the possible increase in the number of cases.

“Kinahanglan naa’y early reporting gyod aron ma-aksyonan dayon,” he said.

He said constant health education programs are being conducted especially those who reportedly refused to accept immunization because of their belief.

According to Cabagnot, these people may not be compelled to undergo immunization, but they were told to also consider the welfare of others.  — (FREEMAN)