PHL rejects ‘blame’ for measles outbreak in US

A TOP health official in the Philippines rejected Friday claims that the country was to blame for the measles outbreak in California, USA.

Secretary Janette Garin, acting head of the Department of Health (DOH), said the Southeast Asian nation could not be blamed solely on the measles outbreak in the United States (US), as an epidemic is a result of several factors.

"Kung may outbreak sa ibang bansa (if there is outbreak in other countries), we might have some lapses. But in other countries, marami rin naman lapses (many lapses are committed). It's not the fault of one country only. It's multi-factorial," said Garin.

In particular, the health chief pointed at the weak immunization program of the US as another possible cause of the measles outbreak in California.

"If their immunization program was good, and there were no misinformation, hindi mangyayari 'yan (it will not happen)," said Garin.

Earlier, reports came out that the California measles outbreak manifested similarities with the one that caused a separate epidemic in the Philippines last year.

A genetic analysis of the virus showed it being measles Genotype B3.

Garin said they will be doing a tracing to determine the cause of the outbreak in California.

"We will check into the tracing if indeed the case from the US came from the Philippines. We still have to verify that," said Garin.

Last year, there was an extraordinary increase of measles cases in the Philippines, especially in Metro Manila and nearby areas.

This had prompted the DOH to conduct a massive measles vaccination campaign outside of its regular immunization program. (Sunnex)

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