Measles outbreak

The measles outbreak is almost over, says Health Secretary Francisco Duque, citing the efforts of health workers and partners who pushed for the immunization of millions of children this year despite the recent waning of confidence in vaccines.

In a statement, the Department of Health says 3.8 million children underwent immunization since February when it declared a measles outbreak in several regions in the country.

The Department of Health says 800 measles cases have been documented over past two days, reports Sheila Crisostomo of the STAR.

This was after 130 people, mostly children, have been reported to have died from the condition.

The Department of Health confirms there is a measles outbreak in Metro Manila with cases rising 550 percent from January 1-February 6 this year compared to the same period in 2018.

An outbreak of measles has killed dozens of infants and children in Romania, with 200 new cases reported each week.

Doctors say the surge in the disease is fueled by low rates of vaccination. Some celebrities have waged media campaigns warning of the perils of immunization, while superstitions such as keeping the vaccine-preventable disease at bay with cabbage juice or not cleaning the house have also exasperated doctors.

Some doctors complain they don't have sufficient stocks of vaccines. — AP

The DOH is monitoring seven towns and cities in Negros Oriental due to the measles outbreak. It says that Negros Oriental is the 4th place to have the outbreak since the Dengvaxia issue.

Health Undersecretary Rolando Enrique Domingo has said early February that immunization rates for polio, chicken pox, tetanus and other diseases were significantly down from previous years since the suspension of the sale and distribution of the Dengvaxia vaccine in December. He said widespread fears over the controversial dengue vaccine, which was blamed by some for child deaths, are wreaking havoc as many parents were refusing to have their children immunized for otherwise preventable diseases.  — with a report from Sheila Crisostomo 

The Department of Health also confirms a measles outbreak in Negros Oriental, where some towns are being monitored. The outbreak was declared by the provincial government.

Health authorities on Thursday have declared an outbreak of measles in some parts of Taguig City.