Bicol raises red flag over rising cases of measles and dengue

The Department of Health-Centre for Health Development (DoH-CHD) in Bicol has raised the red flag on the region as 10 deaths from measles and dengue were reported in the first quarter of the year.
Ernie Vera, DoH-Bicol regional director, said measles and dengue cases were rising as parents remain hesitant to have their children vaccinated after the Dengvaxia controversy.
He said, poor coverage of vaccination across the region specifically in the province of Albay, was a cause for alarm.
The DoH-CHD, through the Philippine Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response, has recorded 493 measles cases in the region as of March 4.
Of this number, 148 cases were in Albay, 122 in Camarines Sur, 106 in Sorsogon, 86 in Masbate, 23 in Camarines Norte, and seven in Catanduanes.
At least six afflicted children have died — three in Masbate, and one each in Albay, Camarines Sur and Sorsogon.
The health official said that while the increasing trend could not yet be considered as an outbreak, they had classified Bicol under those in the red flag situation, meaning an alarming condition.
“Measles and dengue are preventable diseases but we’re afraid of the complication of these diseases and we must be proactive.
We have also established a fast lane for measles patients in government hospitals,” Vera said. He added that the DoH in Bicol was closely co-ordinating with its partners and other agencies in the intensive campaign to reduce the prevalence of measles and would continue providing technical assistance to all areas.
To prevent a possible outbreak, the DoH-CHD is enforcing a three-phase immunisation approach to control and prevent the spread of measles. “We’re personally conducting both fixed point and community-based house-to-house catch-up immunisation with local government unit health personnel to ensure that the children are protected.
That is why we call on the full co-operation of parents and everyone to have their children vaccinated,” Vera said.
The DoH-CHD has reported 756 dengue cases from January to March 2, with five deaths of children from six to 10 years old.
Camarines Sur had the highest incidence of dengue with 425, next is Sorsogon with 110, Albay with 88, Camarines Norte with 63, Masbate with 47 and Catanduanes with 22.
But the DoH warned that while Camarines Sur had the highest cases of dengue, the provinces of Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Norte, Masbate and Catanduanes posted the highest number of cases compared to the same period last year.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Foundation (UNF) report said that the measles outbreak was on the rise globally despite effective vaccine.
It said that measles, one of the world’s most contagious diseases, does not respect borders. As outbreaks continue across the US and other countries, and travellers continue to bring measles to places like Costa Rica where it was once eliminated, the UNF said it was clear that this global problem requires a global solution, which is vaccine.
It added that measles immunisation had already saved 21mn lives and reduced deaths by 80% since 2001.