AN OFFICIAL of the Department of Health-Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (DOH-RESU) assured that the measles outbreak in Mati City, Davao Oriental last December 2019 has now been contained.
“The general situation is we’ve had several episodes of an increased number of cases in several areas in the country and the recent event is actually Mati. Although Davao City meron din, pero there were more reports in Mati,” DOH-Resu head Dr. Cleo Fe Tabada said.
She added, “At the moment, it is being controlled though there are still cases but it’s getting lesser every day and the good part, at this point in time, there were no deaths.”
The health authorities of Mati City have declared measles outbreak after 46 cases were reported as of December 26, 2019. Based on the statement of the Mati local government posted on their website, data from the City Health Office (CHO) shows that the infected patients are from 4 months old to 44 years old.
The 15 barangays that have so far been affected by the measles outbreak are Central, Matiao, Macambol, Badas, Don Martin Marundan, Don Salvador Lopez, Mayo, Lawigan, Sainz, Libudon, Bobon, Tagabakid, Dahican, Sanghay, and Don Enrique Lopez.
“All the cases were discharged, there was no severe complication. There was a few who needed admission in the hospital but they were discharged and (have) improved (their health status),” Tabada added.
Tabada admitted that there was an insufficient supply of the measles vaccine considering that it was yearend. What they did was they requested vaccines from other local government units (LGUs).
“The Department of Health’s resources start to deplete towards the end of the year and in January, and these don’t come immediately; there are processes which we need to do so it takes a while for the resources to come but the good part is that Mati’s situation is controlled now because of the active response of the local government,” she said.
DOH said that measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus. It is transmitted from person-to-person through sneezing, coughing, and close personal contact. Its signs and symptoms include cough, runny nose, red eyes/conjunctivitis, fever, skin rashes lasting for more than 3 days.
The disease’s complications include diarrhea, middle ear infection, pneumonia (infection of the lungs), encephalitis (swelling of the brain), malnutrition, blindness which may lead to death.
Tabada said that in order to counter the rising number of measles cases in children, they are enhancing their immunization. They are requesting the parents also to submit their children for vaccination.