PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte, who was "saddened" by the reported outbreak of measles in the country, has ordered the Department of Health (DOH) to come up with measures that would immediately prevent the spread of the highly infectious disease.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte had directed the DOH to "do something" about the rising number of reported measles cases in the country.
"He (Duterte) was saddened," Panelo said in a press conference when asked about the President's reaction on the measles outbreak.
"You know, the President is always affected by any negative outcome that relates to children. Malungkot siya kaya sabi niya gawan ng paraan kaagad (He's saddened so he said it should be addressed immediately)," he added.
Earlier Thursday, the DOH announced that the measles outbreak has spread to more areas in Luzon and Visayas.
A day after the reported measles outbreak in Metro Manila and Central Luzon, the DOH expanded the declaration to Calabarzon, Western Visayas, and Central Visayas.
As of January 26, Calabarzon had 575 measles cases and nine deaths, according to a data from the DOH.
Meanwhile, Western Visayas recorded 104 cases and three deaths, while Central Visayas reported 71 cases and one death.
Measles, a highly contagious disease, can be passed through coughing, sneezing, and personal contact. Symptoms of measles include red eyes, runny cough and colds, fever, and skin rashes for more than three to seven days.
Complications of measles include severe diarrhea, middle ear infection, pneumonia, blindness, swelling of the brain, and malnutrition, which may lead to death.
Panelo said Duterte had received assurance from Health Secretary Francisco Duque III that his department is exhausting all efforts to address the measles outbreak.
Among the DOH's initiatives were the conduct of massive immunization and information drive on vaccines, Panelo noted.
"Well he (Duterte) said that the Department of Health should do something about the outbreak and Secretary Duque said, 'We're already doing something about it,'" the Palace official said.
"Secretary Duque said, 'We're already doing something about it. So we're conducting a massive immunization, plus information campaign that it's better to prevent than to cure,'" he added. (SunStar Philippines)