The Department of Health-National Capital Region (DOH-NCR) launches Monday (December 16, 2013) a massive measles vaccination campaign following the increase in the number of cases recorded in the metropolis. The vaccination was held at the covered court of Purok Molave, Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City although teams will be deployed in 17 other local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila. According to DOH-NCR Regional Director Dr. Eduardo Janairo, the agency will not wait for an epidemic of measles to spread and affect a large number of children. Janairo says it must be stopped aggressively so that we can prevent large-scale outbreaks that can lead to serious illness and even death. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Department of Health (DOH) has been actively coordinating with local government units to prevent the spread of measles in the country, a Palace official said on Saturday.
Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that children with ages 9 to 11 months have been receiving the first dose of anti-measles vaccine and the second phase will be those who are 12 to 23 months old.
One to two years old will be inoculated by receiving the anti-measles booster.
“Ginagawa ito ng Department of Health, in cooperation with the local government units. In particular, dito sa City of Manila, in cooperation with the DOH, nag-cover na sila ng 148 barangays at ang breakdown ay 21,560 children,” Valte said in an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.
Children with ages not more than five years old were vaccinated, according to Valte.
At the same time, the DOH also deployed mobile teams to conduct door-to-door vaccination to ensure that children ages 9 months old to five years old receive the first dose of anti-measles vaccine, Valte said.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease transmitted through droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of infected persons.
There is no specific treatment for measles and recovery may take two to three weeks, the World Health Organization (WHO) said. Complications of measles however may result in blindness, diarrhea, pneumonia, encephalitis and ear infection. Vaccine is available for children to prevent them from being infected.
Among the symptoms of measles include eye redness, coughs and colds, high fever, rashes on the ears, face, neck, and the whole body, also difficulty of breathing, the health department said.
Health officials said they are looking at a possible new strain of measles that caused the cases of the disease in Metro Manila. (MNS)