Authorities in the Philippines have declared an outbreak of the highly contagious measles virus in the capital, Manila. Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease, which spreads easily through coughs and sneezes. Initial symptoms usually include a fever, cough, runny nose and inflamed eyes. A red rash appears on the face and body a few days later.
Data showed that 196 people had contracted measles between 1-19 January, compared to only 20 cases in the same period last year. Some local officials told the media, that roughly around 50 people who were mostly children, are believed to have died from the disease.
there’s a measles outbreak in manila because gov’t officials used public health for politicking. have your niece/nephews vaccinated if they aren’t already. sobrang daling makahawa ng measles.
— ????????? (@div1na_c0mmedia) February 7, 2019
Health Secretary, Francisco Duque told local media that bronchopneumonia (inflammation in the bronchi) from measles complications can be deadly, and he encouraged parents to take their children for immunisation. Authorities earlier said 2.4 million unvaccinated children were at risk. “Parents should not wait for complications to set in because it might be too late,” he said.
Other than the confirmed cases, at least 861 suspected cases of measles have been reported as of February 2, 2019. The Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday. “We are declaring an outbreak as cases have increased in the past weeks and to strengthen surveillance of new cases and alert mothers and caregivers to be more vigilant,” Mr Duque said in a statement. The outbreak is said to have expanded to other parts of the Philippines. People in the country have been reluctant to have their children immunised at government health centres, after complications related to a dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia.