108 cases in Cordillera due to deadly measles ‘outbreak’

DOH to parents: Have children vaccinated fast 

By Pamela M. Geminiano Julie Fianza and James Patrick Aquino

BAGUIO CITY – Northern Luzon has not been spared by the measles nationwide outbreak as health government agencies and hospitals continued to monitor its spread across different regions.

In the Cordillera, the regional Dept. of Health has intensified its immunization drive to provide vaccination, especially to children, as the number of measles cases in the region is on the rise.

"It is alarming that the measles cases in the region is reaching the outbreak level, but rest assured that the DOH-CAR is doing measures to combat the impending outbreak," DOH-CAR family coordinator, Moida Jade Binwag, said Wednesday.

Statistics showed that from Jan, 1 to Feb. 9, the region recorded 108 cases compared to 14 cases recorded in the same period last year.

Earlier on Feb. 2, DOH Cordillera OIC regional director Dr. Amelita M. Pangilinan revealed 79 cases were recorded from Jan. 1 to Feb. 2.

The Feb. 9 figures mark an increase of 29 cases in one week. No death was recorded in the region.

Binwag said DOH-CAR personnel have begun house-to-house monitoring to be able to reach children who have not availed of the government’s vaccination program.

She assured that there will be sufficient vaccines that would cater to all the children.

 She also said that health workers are intensifying services provided in health centers, and rural health units at the grassroot level.

 Measles vaccination would be administered with focus on children aged six months to 59 months for the initial vaccine and the booster shot.

 The focus on children is due to their vulnerability to the virus.

 The DOH would also conduct a “map-up immunization campaign” to reach the “unreached” and the “missed” children in the community. The department’s heightened immunization program will be from February to March.

In a DOH advisory posted on its social media account, the agency announced the massive campaign and urged residents to visit the nearest health center or wait for health personnel who would administer the vaccination.

 In an earlier report, the Cordillera region recorded a 508 percent increase in the number of measles cases from January 1 to February 2 compared to the same period in 2018.

Pangilinan said that in Baguio City alone, they have recorded the biggest increase over the one-month period with 56 cases compared to the one case recorded in 2018. 

Health officials said vaccination against measles is the only way to prevent the disease from spreading during Health Kapihan at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical center last week even as they bared cases of the dreaded Japanese Encephalitis increased through the years.

Present during the event were medical practitioners from the World Health Organization, Dr. Achyut Shrestha; Dr. Ruby Constantino of the  Dept. of Health Central Office, Dr. Pangilinan, Dr. Ray Suanding of BGHMC, Mayor Mauricio Domogan, Councilor Elaine Sembrano, and Health Services Office head Dr. Rowena Galpo, and other health workers.

Even as JE and measles are both virus-based, measles is air-borne, highly contagious, transmitted through the respiratory route, and could be spread through sneezing, coughing and close personal contact, the health authorities said.

The symptoms for measles are fever, rash lasting for more than three days, red eyes/conjunctivitis, cough/runny nose and loss of appetite

Complications may be diarrhea, middle ear infection or Otitis Media, Pneumonia or infection of the lungs, encephalitis or swelling of the brain or blindness.

Medical authorities said there is no treatment for measles though Paracetamol can be given for fever, proper nutrition and oral rehydration to increase body resistance and replace lost fluids. Vitamin A supplements are also necessary for infants and children, they added.

In addition to a two-dose immunization for infants which are given at nine months and 12 months; cough and sneeze etiquette must be maintained, with avoidance of crowded places to minimize possible infection.

A healthy lifestyle and good nutrition should also be practiced to boost the immune system, it was announced.

The health authorities and local officials called on parents to allow their children to be vaccinated against the disease.

Hotlines are also open to the public: 074-442-8097 to 98; or 09471959845. Other ways to contact health authorities for more information are: FB page, DOH CHD CAR health promotion, FB: Kagawaran ng Kalusugan-Cordillera.          

Measles or rubeola is very contagious disease-causing fever and red rash on the skin, and in most cases, hits children usually those aged five..

It is infectious and can be acquired or increase the risk of having the disease by sharing a glass of water with an infected person.

Symptoms of the disease also include cough, fever, red eyes, white spots inside the mouth, muscle aches, runny nose, sore throat and evident skin rash.

The decline and resistance to vaccination from Filipino families was caused by controversy caused by the previous anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia under the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III.

During his term, a number of children died due to the said vaccine.