THE Department of Health (DOH)-Davao recorded a total of 1,299 measles cases in Davao Region with 16 deaths from January to September 2 this year.

DOH-Davao national immunization program manager Dr. Janis Olavides said Tuesday, September 3, that measles cases in Davao Region decreased by around five percent.

Olavides said a total of 1,299 measles cases were reported from January 1 to September 2, 2019. The data is lower compared to the 1,374 cases reported in the same period in 2018 with 39 deaths.

Of that number, the age ranges from 17 days old to 76 years old with 638 female (49.1 percent) and 661 cases were male (50.9 percent). As to the vaccination status of the victims, 827 cases were not vaccinated (63.6 percent), 103 were unknown (7.9 percent), and 369 cases were vaccinated (28.4 percent).

A total of 1,283 measles victims survived and 16 died this year.

In Davao City alone, there were 536 measles cases, including nine deaths and most of the cases were from Talomo District and portion of Agdao.

Meanwhile, Compostela Valley registered 180 cases with two deaths; Davao del Norte has 303 cases with five deaths; Davao del Sur with 97 cases and zero death; Davao Occidental with 23 cases and zero death; Davao Oriental with 160 cases and zero death.

Olavides said the campaign to combat measles cases is ongoing. (Stacy Claire Price, UM Intern/With JCR)