THERE is a measles outbreak in Metro Manila, following the surge in the number of cases in the previous month, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday, February 6.
DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III declared the measles outbreak Wednesday afternoon after the cases of measles rose in February.
In a television interview, DOH Undersecretary Eric Domingo noted that at least 861 suspected cases of measles, an infectious disease locally known as "tigdas," have been recorded in Metro Manila as of February 2.
Domingo said the number of measles cases was "quite high."
"This afternoon, Secretary Duque officially declared that outbreak in the National Capital Region after seeing the numbers that as of February 2, we had about 861 suspected measles cases all over Metro Manila and this is quite high," he said.
The Health undersecretary noted that Quezon City, Manila, Caloocan, Marikina, Pasig, Navotas, ParaƱaque, Taguig, Pasay, and Malabon had the most number of measles cases.
The DOH earlier warned that 2.4 million children are at risk of getting infected with measles because of being unvaccinated.
On January 29, Duterte encouraged Filipinos to get immunized against other diseases, saying parents should not be complacent when it comes to protecting their children from exposure to health hazards. (SunStar Philippines)