By Gail Momblan/PNA
ILOILO CITY — Negros Occidental recorded the highest number of measles cases in Western Visayas, the Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD 6) said.
As of Friday, Negros Occidental posted 298 suspected measles cases with 31 confirmed and three deaths, out of four reported in Western Visayas.
The latest fatality is a three-month old child from Bago City. Two other deaths involve a 23-year-old from Escalante and a five-month-old baby from Talisay, both in Negros Occidental.
Dr. Jessie Glen Alonsabe, Medical Specialist III, said the “very mobile” population in Negros Occidental poses a challenge in vaccinating children.
“Negros Occidental has a very mobile population because of the sugarcane workers. Usually, they can hardly be reached by our vaccination teams because they tend to move residence to adjust to their workplace,” he said in a press briefing.
Dr. Renilyn Reyes, DOH-6 Medical Officer IV, added the DOH and the Provincial Health Office of Negros Occidental already formulated a strategy to counter the challenges.
“We consider a special strategy of mass immunization wherein there is social mobilization that will gather the target age group. It will be a sort of affair or a “fiesta atmosphere” where kids will attend and have their vaccines,” she said.
Meanwhile, the province of Antique follows Negros Occidental in having the most number of measles cases with 186 suspected cases including nine confirmed and one death.
Next is Bacolod City with 112 suspected and four confirmed cases.
DOH data indicated that as of Friday, measles cases in Western Visayas reached 818 including 51 confirmed cases and four deaths.
