ZAMBOANGA City Health Officer Dr. Rodelin Agbulos has advised parents to have their children immunized with anti-measles vaccines to ensure protection from the disease.

Agbulos also ordered his personnel to monitor for cases of measles in their respective areas of assignments for appropriate action.

Agbulos issued the advice to parents and order to his personnel following the reported outbreak of measles in Metro Manila.

Agbulos said the parents whose children were not yet immunized can avail themselves of the free immunization on measles being held every Wednesday at the health centers in their respective villages.

Each of the city’s 98 villages has health centers with complete personnel assigned by the City Health Office and with sufficient anti-measles vaccines.

He said measles is a highly contagious disease, adding that death is not caused by measles but by complications like pneumonia, dehydration, and diarrhea.

He said the common symptoms of measles are fever, rashes, cough, and colds.

He advised parents whose child shows symptoms of measles to immediately bring their children to the health center for early medication. (Bong Garcia)