Philippines has third highest measles rate — WHO

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines was named third among several countries most affected with measles in the world over the past year as the number of cases continues to spike worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported.

Based on the WHO’s Measles Rubella Update of August 2019, the Philippines made it to the top 10 countries in terms of reported measles cases from July 2018 to June 2019.  

The country reported 45,847 cases of the highly contagious disease during this period.

Madagascar and Ukraine registered the highest number of cases with 150,976 and 84,394 cases, respectively, followed by Nigeria, India, Kazakhstan, the Democratic Republic of Congro, Yemen, Myanmar and Georgia all of which have seen major outbreaks.

From Jan. 1 to July 31, 2019, a total of 182 countries reported 364,808 measles cases to WHO. 

WHO said “measles outbreaks continue to spread rapidly around the world...  with millions of people globally at risk of the disease.”

WHO added that in the first six months of 2019, measles cases are the “highest they have been in any year since 2006, with outbreaks straining health care systems, and leading to serious illness, disability and deaths in many parts of the world.”