BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - The cases of measles in the Cordillera have been rising with government health monitoring officials recording a 224-percent hike.
The health department’s monthly disease from January to August 31 surveillance report revealed measles tops the list of illnesses with the biggest increase.
Measles was followed by meningitis with 81 percent hike, acute encephalitis syndrome (67 percent), and non – neonatal tetanus with 57 percent increase.
In 2012, there was only 49 suspected cases of measles in the highlands and grew to 159 this year.
According to government physician Erin Baclig of the Center for Health Development – Licensing and Regulations Support Division measles, a viral disease, is highly contagious.
Measles is caused by a virus in the paramyxovirus family. The measles virus normally grows in the cells that line the back of the throat and lungs. Measles is a human disease and is not known to occur in animals.
Usually high fever occurs as the first sign of the disease, which begins about 10 to 12 days after exposure to the virus, and lasts four to seven days. A runny nose, a cough, red and watery eyes, and small white spots inside the cheeks can develop in the initial stage.
After several days, a rash erupts, usually on the face and upper neck. Over about three days, the rash spreads, eventually reaching the hands and feet. The rash lasts for five to six days, and then fades. On average, the rash occurs 14 days after exposure to the virus (within a range of seven to 18 days).
In the whole of the Cordillera, Benguet had the highest increase with 528.57 percent increase of patients from 2012.
Baguio City came in second with 186.66 percent and Apayao with 55.55 percent case hike.
Alexi Marrero, Coordinator of the Regional Expanded Program on Immunization, said among the 159 suspected cases of measles in the region, there were 35 confirmed victims.
These victims are from Benguet – Itogon (12), La Trinidad (four), and Buguias (one); Baguio City with 17; and Lamut, Ifugao with one patient.
No cases were reported however on acute hemorrhagic fever, cholera, neonatal tetanus, and paralytic selfish poisoning while the cases of hand, foot and mouth disease and pertussis have 100 percent decrease of patients since last year.
Cases of leptospirosis and malaria also decreased by 71 and 40 percent, respectively.