DOH warns of measles outbreak

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday warned of a measles outbreak as cases shot up to more than 600, including two deaths, in a span of one month.

Disease experts are now closely monitoring several barangays across the country for cases of measles outbreak.

These barangays are situated in Manila, Alabang, Parañaque, Las Piñas and in the provinces of Quezon, Tarlac, Rizal, Masbate, Cavite, Iloilo and Lanao del Sur.

DOH records showed that from Jan. 1 to Feb. 13, a total of 669 measles cases have been reported across the country. This is significantly higher than the 394 cases recorded during the same period in 2009.

Metro Manila accounted for 304 cases, followed by Region VI with 68; Region IV-A with 57; Region V with 47; Region IX with 27 and Cordillera Administrative Region with 16. A majority of the victims were one to four years old.

Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral has urged parents to ensure that their children observe personal hygiene to protect themselves against measles, especially this summer.

“We also have to keep our surroundings clean to protect our children from diseases. During summer, the kids are mostly on the road playing. If one of them has measles, the others who have not yet been vaccinated might get it,” she said in a press briefing.

In its official website, the World Health Organization describes measles as a “highly contagious and serious disease.”

Measles is characterized by a high fever that begins 10 to 12 days after exposure to the virus and that lasts up to seven days. Other symptoms are cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes.