ANGELES CITY — The Department of Health (DOH) Regional Office 3 has started to intensify its measles immunization campaign in Central Luzon to curb increasing cases of the communicable disease in the region.
DOH Regional Director Cesar Cassion, during a press conference on the measles outbreak in Central Luzon held on Tuesday at the Azzuro Hotel here, said the intensified immunization activities will target children aged six to 59 months old.
“Our focus is on children within this age range as most measles cases reported are on that bracket,” Cassion said.
At the same time, he said the DOH is coordinating with the executives in the region to work for the extension of vaccination services even during weekends.
“This is to cover more unvaccinated children,” the DOH official said as he assured an adequate supply of vaccines in the region.
“The vaccine is proven safe and effective,” Cassion said.
Latest data from the DOH’s Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) showed that from January to February 12, there were 721 measles cases with 14 deaths in the region.
The three provinces with the highest number of measles in Central Luzon were Bulacan with 222 cases and four deaths; Pampanga with 191 cases and four deaths; and Tarlac with 180 cases and four deaths.
Dr. Jesse Fantone, head of DOH-RESU, said they will send teams, particularly to these three provinces, to conduct monitoring and rapid coverage assessment in order to find unvaccinated children.
The team, Fantone said, will be composed of doctors, nurses, medical officers and health advocacy personnel.
“We are appealing to the parents to have their children vaccinated at the nearest health centers,” he said.
Dr. Laila Mangulaban, chief of the Local Health Support Division in Central Luzon, said the DOH has likewise been conducting advocacy activities to heighten awareness on measles.
“The management of measles cases is important. We are appealing to parents to bring their children with measles symptoms for proper and immediate treatment,” she said.
Measles is a highly infectious and communicable disease caused by a virus. Symptoms include high fever, cough, conjunctivitis and colds.
If not properly managed, it can lead to complications, such as blindness, encephalitis, pneumonia, diarrhea and even death.
