4,718 measles, rubella cases logged nationwide

MANILA, Philippines — Up to 4,718 cases of measles and rubella were reported across the country from January to this month, according to the Department of Health.

The DOH said the figure is 37 percent higher than the 3,434 cases recorded during the same period last year.

“Around 73 percent of the reported measles and rubella cases involved unvaccinated children, a majority of them aged five years and below,” the DOH said.

Of the total number of cases, 118 were identified as German measles, which is more than twice the number of infections recorded in 2024 with 53.

The DOH said they are strictly monitoring evacuation centers for possible measles and rubella cases.

“Following the onslaught of typhoons Tino and Uwan, several evacuation centers are packed with children from different households. Some of these children are unvaccinated. If just one child there contracts measles or rubella, the diseases can easily spread to all unvaccinated evacuees,” Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said.

He said that medical teams from the DOH are visiting evacuation centers to give children free measles and rubella vaccines.

The DOH gave assurance that the country has enough supply of measles and rubella vaccines.

“We have sufficient supply of vaccines against measles and rubella, which were distributed to various local government units. These are the ones we see in health centers for those who have yet to be vaccinated,” Herbosa said.

The DOH said that last Friday, the country received another two million doses of measles and rubella vaccines.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

The disease affects all age groups, but is more common among children. Symptoms of the disease include high fever, cough, runny nose, body rash, and red, watery eyes.