DoH sees measles outbreak under control
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2019 08:45:11 +0000
The Department of Health yesterday projected that the measles outbreak in certain regions in the country
might be declared under control by April or May.
“We’re looking at April or May. We don’t want to unduly raise expectations then we cannot deliver, so I think the most prudent estimation would be about April, May. Probably last week of April to about first few weeks of May,” said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III during a press briefing at San Lazaro Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila.
The Health chief said that they still observe increasing trend of measles cases.
“Clearly ‘yung parameter dito ay kung humuhupa na ‘yung bilang ng ating mga admissions sa hospitals of cases. But now we are still seeing going up trend,” said Duque. “The trend is still increasing so we cannot say that the trend is starting to reverse because it hasn’t,” he added.
Latest figure showed that as of Feb. 11, confirmed measles cases have now reached 5,615, including 87 deaths.
Regions with the highest number of cases are Calabarzon with 1,434 cases and 31 deaths; National Capital Region with 1,322 cases with 21 deaths; Central Luzon with 732 cases with seven deaths; Western Visayas with 355 cases with three deaths; and Northern Mindanao with 315 cases with two deaths.
The Health chief called on the local government units to ensure that all health centers in their jurisdiction are operational during working hours.
Duque said that he received reports from some parents, saying that some staff in health centers are not available to administer the vaccine. “Nakapag-interview ako kanina, may mga magulang nagreklamo, balik balik tatlong beses, eh wala daw yung bakunador. Walang magtuturok pero kumpleto naman ng bakuna,” he said. (Analou de Vera)