Philippines measles cases top 200, Dengue cases doubled from last year

By dorg6 On Mar 30, 2023

Measles

Health officials in the Philippines reported 208 cases of measles from the beginning of the year through March 11, an increase of 478 percent from the 36 cases reported during the same period in 2022.

Image/www.demis.nl via wikimedia commons

Thirteen of the 17 regions saw increases in measles cases, and some saw significant increases — the Zamboanga Peninsula was up 4,000%, Central Visayas was up 2,400%, and Metro Manila reported a 1,067% increase from last year.

The supplementary immunization activity for the 2023 bivalent oral measles and rubella vaccine (MR OPV SIA) will be conducted in May this year to prevent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

The national immunization rate in 2014 was 73.96 percent, which is lower when compared to the coverage of 82.41 percent in 2013.

From 68.54 percent in 2016, it decreased to 66.32 percent in 2017, 63.15 percent in 2018, and 59.52 percent in 2022.

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dengue fever

Officials also reported that dengue cases nearly doubled in 2023 through March 11. Since the beginning of the year, the Philippines has reported 25,248 total cases. This compares to 12,772 cases reported from January 1 to March 11, 2022.

There have been 86 reported deaths, just down from the 93 deaths reported last year at this time.

Metro Manila reported the most cases in 17 districts with 3,614, followed by Central Luzon (2,761), Calabarzon (2,491) and Davao Region (2,415).

Health officials repeatedly call on the population to practice the “4S” strategy to prevent the spread of disease. The “4S” strategy includes searching for and destroying mosquito breeding grounds, self-protection, seeking early advice from doctors or other health workers, and supporting fogging or spraying in hot spots.