ASIDE from recording 19 measles cases in Baguio City and five related cases in the Province of Benguet, the Department of Health (DOH) Cordillera continues to monitor 130 suspected cases as of January 13 of this year.
In the weekly Kapihan sa Baguio, DOH–CAR officer–in-charge Doctor Amelita Pangilinan said the Cordillera region only contributes two percent of the measles cases in the country.
“Although we are also experiencing an increase in the number of measles cases, basing on the national pie, it is the regions with high population like NCR, 4-A, 3, Western and Eastern Vizayas that indicated around 25 percent of measles cases nationwide. The two percent of measles cases is based on our population, we even have a province in the region that recorded a zero number of measles case,” Pangilinan said.
Despite of recording only two percent in the total number of measles cases in CAR, DOH considers this as alarming due to the increase compared to previous years.
“We would not want to have an increasing number of measles cases, and the DOH together with the local government units in the region is doing something. We are presently doing our outbreak response immunization which is a special immunization activity in the Barangays,” Pangilinan stated.
Measles is caused by a virus in the paramyxovirus family,” can be passed through direct contact and through the air, and infects the respiratory tract.
Unvaccinated young children are at highest risk of the disease and its complications which include severe diarrhea, pneumonia, blindness, and even death.
DOH Cordillera conducted its special immunization activity on measles last year after recording an increase last year.
Children in Grades 1 to 7, Pangilinan said are now availing of the vaccine aside from the trust of the parents to the time tested vaccine which the department hopes will continue.
“I personally think that this is providential because the parents now see the importance of measles immunization based on their personal testimonies as a result of not bringing their children for vaccination,” Pangilinan added.
The DOH reiterates the need for parents having children belonging to the 0 to 6 months old which have not been vaccinated of measles to remain at home so as not to be affected by measles.