Carylle Denise M.

Dizon BSN II-2

Philippines Launches Vaccination Drive to Halt Measles Outbreak

By Josephine Cuneta
MANILAThe Philippine Department of Health has declared an outbreak of measles in more than half of the capital region as doctors confirm more cases of a virus that killed nearly two dozen people last year. Health workers are now being mobilized to conduct a massive measles vaccination drive in metropolitan Manila to stop the virus from spreading. Children, pregnant mothers and people with weak immune systems are the most at risk of catching the virus, say health officials. Between Jan. 1 and Dec. 14 last year, the health department recorded a total of 1,724 measles cases with 21 deaths due to complications such as pneumonia caused by the virus. The health department declares a measles outbreak if at least one laboratory-confirmed case of infection is reported within three of the last four weeks, said Dr. Eric Tayag, an assistant secretary and health department spokesman. Measles is a respiratory infection caused by a virus that induces flu-like symptoms, such as runny nose, coughing and fever. It can spread through cough or direct contact with body fluids and can be highly contagious if treatment is delayed, say doctors. The only way of preventing the virus is through vaccination. Health officials say the reason for the current outbreak is because previous vaccination campaigns did not reach all those in need. Say you have two million children to vaccinate every year; a 90% measles vaccine coverage means 10% were unvaccinated, or in five years, one million were unvaccinated, Mr. Tayag said. The Philippines has a regular immunization program for children under the age of two, but some miss it because their families move to other cities or transfer residences.

Manila is at a high risk to measles because of the mobility of the population, said Mr. Tayag. A single measles case can spread far more easily than other viruses. Where the flu can infect up to three other individuals, said Mr. Tayag, measles can infect up to 18 other people, even before rashes appear. A person who enters a room where a person with measles has just left, can still get measles, as the virus can live up to two hours outside the host body, he said. Given high levels of contagion, Mr. Tayag stressed that vaccination must be done swiftly and reach more people. The health department aims to expand vaccine coverage so that it reaches all children between the ages of six months and five years in every district across the country. If vaccination coverage reaches at least 95% of those children, Mr. Tayag said, measles elimination can be achieved. The World Health Organization has set a goal of eliminating measles in the Western Pacific region by 2017, and the Philippines department of health says it intends to vaccinate as many children as possible to ensure the country achieves that target. Measles vaccinations are free in health centers nationwide. But to prevent adverse effects, it is also advised that you have a healthy body for stronger resistance, Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, program manager for Emerging and Reemerging Diseases at the health department told the Wall Street Journal. Mr. Tayag also advised giving vitamins to children to help build their immune defenses. Measles is usually a mild virus, but for malnourished children it could cause complications that could kill. He said vitamin A can reduce mortality rates by 50%