All regions at high risk for measles outbreak

MANILA, Philippines —  All regions in the country are at high risk for the outbreak of measles, according to the Department of Health. DOH Epidemiology Bureau director Dr. Alethea de Guzman issued the warning, citing the low vaccination coverage and detection of measles cases nationwide.

“There is a need to improve not only vaccination but the surveillance on measles as well,” she said.
De Guzman said the last measles outbreak in the country was in 2019.

“The cycle is every four to five years before another outbreak occurs. That is why we are saying that in the next year or two, this will happen if we will not be able to increase our vaccination coverage,” she said.

The DOH said 1.6 million children were unvaccinated for measles in 2021.

De Guzman said the figures may reach up to three million as the DOH has yet to account for the unvaccinated in the previous years.

DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the department would launch a supplemental immunization program for children five years old and below in March next year.

The DOH had earlier said Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Bicol and Central Visayas  exceeded the measles epidemic threshold as cases almost quadrupled compared to last year.

Calabarzon logged the highest number of cases with 16 followed by Eastern Visayas with 12.