By Lilian Mellejor/PNA
DAVAO CITY – Despite a low number of measle cases in the Davao Region, the Department of Health (DOH) has started intensifying the immunization drive for measles and broaden deployment of nurses to support local government units.
DOH-11 Director Annabelle Yumang said they have recorded 86 measles cases from January 1 to February 10 based on the report of Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit, with two recorded deaths in Bunawan District, Davao City, and Pantukan, Compostela Valley.
“This is 75 percent lower compared to the same period last year,” Yumang said during Monday’s press conference here.
Dr. Raquel Montejo, officer-in-charge of the DOH Center for Health Development, said the youngest patient involves an eight-month old baby, while the oldest was a 75-year old man.
Montejo said Davao City has the highest measles cases with 53, followed by Davao del Sur with 20; Compostela Valley with seven; Davao del Norte with five; and Davao Oriental with one.
In the same period last year, DOH -11 reported a measles outbreak with 347 recorded cases.
“That prompted us to go on a house-to-house immunization of measles-containing vaccines (MCV) to address the outbreak last year,” she said.
Yumang said measles is highly contagious and can cause fatal complications, especially among infants and young children with malnutrition and weak immune system.
Yumang clarified that measles is not a cause of death but the complication that goes with the disease — usually pneumonia.
She reminded parents that every Wednesday is Immunization Day. Parents need to bring their children every Wednesday to have their children immunized.
Yumang said that aside measles shot, the government’s National Immunization Program cover nine vaccine preventable diseases such as the BCG, Diptheria, Tetanus, TB, Polio, Hepa B, mumps, rubella, among others.
“It’s for free and we have enough supply,” Yumang added.
