By Jim Lloyd Dongiapon
Measles cases in the Davao Region have tripled this year compared to last year’s figures, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
Based on the measles and rubella surveillance report from January 1 to November 12, 2022, 37 total measles cases were recorded, a 208 percent increase from 2021’s record of 12 cases.
The numbers from Davao Region account for 7.06 percent of the 524 measles cases reported nationwide. The nationwide confirmed cases also saw a 199 percent increase from last year’s 175 confirmed cases.
For rubella, the region recorded four cases during the same period, which is the same number as the cases reported last year.
Fortunately, there were no reported deaths in the region due to measles or rubella.
Meanwhile, DOH-Davao has not yet released the status of the region on Measles Containing Vaccines (MCV) inoculation.
DOH fears that if the vaccination coverage remains low, an outbreak may occur by the coming year.
Dr. Althea de Guzman, the director of the DOH epidemiology bureau, said that measles outbreaks usually happen every four to five years.
The last outbreak in the country happened in the latter months of 2018 up to the early months of 2019.
On the other hand, the health department recommends that children should be inoculated with MCV at nine months and 12 months old in order to protect them from the virus. (Courtesy: Department of Health – Bureau of Quarantine)