DoH records 20,000 measles cases
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Wed, 20 Mar 2019 06:48:23 +0000
The number of measles cases nationwide continues to increase.
The Department of Health has recorded more than 20,000 measles cases as of March 14.
Based on the latest report of the DoH-Epidemiology Bureau, 21,396 measles cases were recorded from Jan. 1 to March 14, almost 17,000 higher than the 4,417 reported cases during the same period last year.
Three-hundred fifteen persons have died from measles, compared to the 43 deaths recorded in the same period last year.
Most number of cases were recorded in Region 4-A or the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon area with 4,401 cases; followed by the National Capital Region with 4,266; Central Luzon with 3,409; Western Visayas with 1,197; and Northern Mindanao with 1,059.
Region 4-A had the most number of deaths with 87; followed by NCR with 85; and Central Luzon with 52.
Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III renewed his call to health workers to make measles vaccines more accessible.
“We have the capability. We have the manpower, the funds, and logistics. There should be no excuse,” he said.
“We need to collectively ensure and commit to bring back herd immunity to 95 percent. Let’s be 10 steps ahead so we can prevent the spread of this vaccine-preventable disease,” the Health chief added. (Analou de Vera)