Measles cases up nationwide – DOH

MANILA, Philippines — The number of measles cases nationwide is rising, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

The latest DOH Disease Surveillance Report showed signs of an increasing number of measles cases in just the first month of the year.

The agency recorded a total of 59 measles cases in January – a figure way above the eight measles cases reported in the same period last year.

The biggest number of cases was reported in Zamboanga peninsula with 13, followed by Ilocos region with eight and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) with seven.

Central Luzon, however, posted the highest jump from only one case in last year to eight cases in January.

Ilocos region went up to eight from two last year while Northern Mindanao and Davao region rose to three from one last year.

The DOH, however, reported zero deaths from measles for January.

Three regions – Mimaropa (Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos) and Cordillera Administrative Region have not reported a single case of measles.

All of the country’s 17 regions have been classified last year by the DOH as high risk for measles outbreaks due to low immunization rates among children in recent years.

The agency also noted that the measles outbreak in the country usually occurs every four to five years, with the last one taking place in the last months of 2018 to early 2019.