Another measles outbreak in Northern Samar

Tacloban City — Another measles outbreak in a remote village of Catarman Northern Samar claimed the lives of 10 children, while 12 others were hospitalized.

Dr. Myrna Trongcoso, municipal health officer of Catarman town identified the fatalities as siblings two year-old Myla and 11 year-old Michael both children of Vicente Londero; Maricar Solomon, seven, daughter of Josefina Solomon; Baby girl Orio, three; Marilyn Lendero, three; Juane Igbuhay, five; Ever Cardenas, seven; and his sister Maria Laou Lourdes, five months old; son and daughter of Renato Cardenas; and two children of Onggit Tolitol. The victims are all residents of Sitio Hilagonayan, Bgy. Mckinley one of the far flung barangays of Catarman.

Trongcoso said the measles outbreak started last week, with Michael and Myla as the first fatalities. But with the help of the health authorities in the province of Northern Samar, the measles outbreak in that area is already under control.

Only in January, the municipal health office of Catarman also reported that eight minors died of measles in nearby Sitio Cabayhan, in Bgy Polangi, also of Catarman.

In another development, the Department of Health regional office here also reported that two children have died last week while eight others were also confined at the Leyte Provincial Hospital as a result of measles outbreak in one of the squatter areas in Bgy Pawing of Palo, Leyte.

Dr. Nicolas Bautista, Chief of the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) of the Department of Health told The STAR that based on their findings and investigation, out of the 30 families occupying the area only two children have been administered anti-measles vaccination.

Last month the DOH has also reported 255 cases of measles with six deaths from January to March 27. Bautista, however emphasized the cases was only those admitted to the different hospitals in the region. Bautista said that aside from the fatalities reported from the hospitals, the 12 measles outbreak alone since January up to March has reported 19 deaths and 261 other cases. — Miriam Garcia Desacada