Health authorities confirmed two cases and 18 suspected cases of measles in nine areas in Cebu province.
Dr. Shelbay Blanco, Health Emergency Management Staff (HEMS) coordinator of the Department of Health (DOH-7) regional office said they are talking with the mayors of the local governments where the cases surfaced.
“We are now declaring blue alert status in areas with confirmed cases of measles, which means, we are ready,” Blanco said. Based on their monitoring from January to April 6 this year, the patients are aged 38 and 10 months old.
Blanco declined to identify the areas until they’ve finished talking with the mayors to avoid causing panic.
DOH Regional Director Dr. Jaime Bernadas said earlier that measles infection can be fatal to infants, especially if they acquire complications of bronchopneumonia.
“The department is already investigating these cases and we will be conducting contact tracing in order to trace those people who have an encounter with the patients,” he said.
A measles outbreak was declared in Negros Oriental province and towns like Bacong, Dumaguete City, Mabinay, San Jose, Santa Catalina, Siaton, and Valencia are under observation.
DOH-7 also recorded 44 suspected, 30 confirmed and five clinically compatible cases of measles in Negros Oriental.
“We received word from our counterparts in the Provincial Health Offices in Central Visayas that some parents would refuse and no longer believe in our vaccines,” medical officer Dr. Hayce Ramos said.
Last year, the department recorded a 60 percent compliance rate on their immunization program, slightly lower than the 70 percent compliance rate the year before.
This year, DOH-7 is targeting 250,000 to 260,000 children in Central Visayas for their National Immunization Program. Dr. Ramos said their vaccines are tested and proven safe and effective to children.
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