Surigao City declares 'highly-contagious' measles outbreak

Manila, Philippines - Surigao City health office has declared measles outbreak after recording 187 suspected cases. According to the report, seven (7) are confirmed measles while the rest still have pending test results.

Surigao City measles outbreak


Information officer of the Surigao City Incident Command System Annette Villaces said that a 9-month-old baby girl has died due to measles.

In about 15 days, a total of 50 suspected cases of measles has been recorded.

“Most of the victims came from the barangays of Taft, Washington, Canlanipa, San Juan, Cagniog, Luna, Rizal, Mabua, Mat-i, Togbongon, Ipil, Mapawa, Trinidad, Cabongbongan, Capalayan, Nabago, Quezon, San Jose, Balibayon, Serna and Punta Bilar.", Dr. Arlene T. Felizarta of the City Health Office and Family Medicine Expert said via PIA.

Meanwhile, the health office in Surigao City has stepped up their measles awareness and immunization campaign following the increase in the number of cases recorded from January to May 2014.

Accordingly, measles vaccines were made available in barangays to protect the community from acquiring this potentially serious viral disease and to eventually prevent its spread.

Residents are now being given Vitamins A and C and are urged to seek treatment immediately once they notice symptoms such as cough and colds, fever and rashes.

Surigao City has zero case of measles in the previous year.

Measles, also known as morbilli, English measles, or rubeola (and not to be confused with rubella or roseola) is an infection of the respiratory system, immune system and skin caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus. Measles is spread through respiration (contact with fluids from an infected person's nose and mouth, either directly or through aerosol transmission), and is highly contagious—90% of people without immunity sharing living space with an infected person will catch it.



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