Measles cases nationwide exceed 30,000

MANILA, Philippines — Measles cases nationwide rose to over 30,000 in the first quarter of the year, the Department of Health (DOH) reported yesterday.

The latest DOH disease surveillance report showed a total of 31,056 measles cases were recorded nationwide from January to April 13.

The DOH said recorded measles incidence is higher by 6,641 from the cases posted during the same period last year.  

Mortality due to measles this year, DOH noted, also went up to 415, which is higher by 50 from last year’s figure.

The National Capital Region accounted for the biggest number of cases with 6,075 including 106 deaths.

Region 4A or Calabarzon posted the second highest number of cases with 6,010 including 111 deaths followed by Region 3 (Central Luzon) with 5,091 and 73 deaths.

More than half or 17,983 of measles patients have no vaccine against the potentially deadly infection.

A majority or 16,347 of those who acquired the infection were males, 27 percent of whom belong to the one to four years age group. 

The DOH has been urging parents and guardians to have their children immunized to protect them from measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases.