DOH averts spread of measles in tribal village

The measles outbreak in a tribal community in South Cotabato that downed 21 children, five of whom died, are now under control, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.

Dr. Milagros Fernandez, DOH undersecretary for Mindanao, said the measles victims belong to the Bilaan tribe, a nomadic group that lives in the remote village of Simsiman in Norala, South Cotabato.

Fernandez said a five-man DOH team was sent to Simsiman to look into the outbreak and immunize children aged nine months to eight years there.

The team has isolated the measles victims to prevent them from spreading the disease.

Fernandez said the youngest fatality was a five-month-old infant who belonged to a family of seven who all got infected with measles, and the eldest, a 12-year-old.