Anti-measles drive goes on as Bohol still affected

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines  — Measles has been detected in Cortes town of Bohol and has been noted to have spread to neighboring towns of Maribojoc, Loon, Panglao, Dauis and this city, according to Measles-Like Case Response paper released by the Provincial Health Office recently.

The contamination has spread further to the towns of Talibon, Trinidad, Inabanga, Jagna and Anda, the report stated prompting health authorities here to continue their province-wide campaign against measles considering that Bohol is still vulnerable and affected by the disease to this day.

A total of 426 cases, which authorities however could not yet deem to be at epidemic level, has been recorded with Loon town topping them all with 189. Cortes town had 108; this city (52); Panglao (36); Talibon (14); Dauis (eight); Maribojoc (seven); Candijay and Trinidad (three each); Jagna and Getafe (two each); and Baclayon and Corella (one each).

The anti-measles campaign, which includes information dissemination, has been intensified through supplemental immunization activity by measles-rubella (MR) vaccines for measles-free Philippines as can be reflected to its theme, "Ligtas Sa Tigdas Ang Pinas."

The strategy employed is called "strictly door-to-door" and would start next month to run for 20 days to eliminate measles by 2012, to reduce the number of children at risk of being affected by measles and to achieve at least 95 percent MR immunization coverage of all children from 9-month-old to older ones.

Eligible to be vaccinated are   those aged 9 to 90 months, which is equivalent to about 18.13 percent of the population and also those who are considered "roaming family with no house" and those "found in public places."

Other activities of the drive against measles are the "case finding," random blood sampling for confirmation, vitamin A supplementation, mop-up activities of measles immunization up to 15 years old and mobilization of the local government units and feedbacking.

Health authorities also urged municipal officials to issue directives for their townsfolk to immunize their children aged 9 to 15 years old and for the Department of Education to ensure immunization of all school children in both public and private schools.  (FREEMAN)