Measles outbreak declared in BARMM

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — A measles outbreak has been declared in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The Ministry of Health in BARMM said three children – two in Lanao del Sur and one in Sulu – have died of measles since January.

At least 592 cases were reported in the entire region during the same period, 220 of them in Lanao del Sur.

Sulu logged 91 cases; Maguindanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur, 160, and Marawi, 80.

The 63 Bangsamoro barangays in Cotabato and Maguindanao del Sur recorded 11 cases each; Cotabato City, four, and Tawi-Tawi, three.

Zul Qarneyn Abas, BARMM’s deputy health minister, said a massive vaccination campaign against measles would be launched in the region in April.

The Department of Health (DOH) had earlier reported an increase in measles cases in all regions, except in Bicol and Central Visayas.

Measles, which is highly contagious, spreads from infected individuals through the air, especially through coughing or sneezing.

Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose and a body rash.