MANILA, Philippines – Batanes is the only province in the Philippines that is still free from measles, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
DOH Undersecretary Eric Domingo cited the province’s geographical location as among the likely reasons why it remains measles-free.
Batanes is northernmost province in the Philippines situated in the Cagayan Valley region.
“Batanes is isolated and there is also less traffic there so it remains free from measles. We hope they can maintain that,” Domingo said.
DOH record from January 1 to March 2, 2019 showed that the cases of measles infection in the country have reached 16,349 with 261 deaths. Around 3,374 cases were reported during the same period in 2017, without deaths.
The most number of measles infection were reported from Calabarzon, Metro Manila and Central Luzon with 3,875; 3,617; 2,330 cases, respectively. These are the three regions where measles outbreak was first declared.
The last provinces to report measles cases are Catanduanes with one case, and Tawi-Tawi with 11 cases, according to DOH data.
Domingo added that as of March 6, the DOH was already able to hit half of its targeted 3,783,985 children aged six to 59 months.
“Our coverage has already reached 45 percent. We are hopeful that we can vaccinate all of the target children soon,” he maintained.
The Health Official added that the DOH and local governments have scaled up vaccination of eligible children to keep measles at bay.
The DOH has also started door-to-door supplemental immunization and intensified routine vaccination at health centers in the hopes of controlling the measles outbreak by April or May.
The agency has repeatedly called on parents and caregivers to get their child vaccinated to protect them from measles and other diseases.
Aside from measles, the country is also grappling with spiking dengue cases which
Dengue cases hit 36,000; death toll reaches 140
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