Cases of measles at CPDRC now 50

CEBU, Philippines - At least seven more cases of measles were reported at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).

Marco Toral, Capitol’s consultant on jail matters, confirmed that the number of cases reached 50 last Saturday. Only last Thursday, 43 inmates were reported to have contracted the disease.

All affected inmates have been moved to a separate cell, 37 of them are on isolation.

Toral said health screening for visitors at facility is being observed strictly and those found suffering from viral diseases such as fever, cough and colds are barred from entering for now.

Considering that measles is an airborne disease, the Regional Epidemiological Surveillance Unit-7 has directed the jail management to screen visitors of detainees to avoid spreading the infection.

It can spread through physical contact and from fluids released by a person through sneezing and coughing.

The CPDRC is open to inmates’ visitors on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Last week, Rennan Cimafranca, chief of the RESU-7, together with personnel from the Provincial Health Office, conducted blood sampling to those inflicted with measles.

Laboratory examination confirmed that the first batch of extracted blood samples was positive for measles, RESU-7 reported. Seven inmates were confirmed to have the disease during the second blood sampling while 12 more had their blood samples  taken Thursday.

Toral said his office is yet to receive feedback on the last two batches of blood samples. —/JMO (FREEMAN)