1 dead, 53 suspected with measles

The City has recorded the highest number of suspected measles cases with one death throughout the region, according to Dr. Anabelle Yumang, Department of Health (DOH) Regional Director.

Yumang bared a data from the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit’s (RESU) from January 1–February 10, 2019, the City recorded 53 cases out of the total 86 cases throughout the region for the said period.

This is followed by the province of Davao del Sur with 20 suspected cases, Compostela Valley with seven cases, Davao del Norte with five cases, and Davao Oriental with a single case. Meanwhile, the data for Davao Occidental has still to come in.

Yumang also bared that the death from the City was recorded in Brgy. Tibungco, Bunawan District.

However, Yumang noted that the number of cases has actually gone down compared to last year.

“This is 75% lower compared to the same period of last year with a 347 cases in 2018 within the same period,” Yumang told reporters during Monday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City.

The lowered number of cases, according to Yumang, is a result of their effort to conduct a house immunization.

“Reported measles cases spiked first quarter of last year which prompted the agency to conduct Outbreak Response Immunization (ORI) last year,” Yumang said.

House to house immunization of Measles containing vaccines (MCV) were conducted in areas where there were reported cases. This addressed the outbreak last year,” she added.

Meanwhile, Yumang vowed that they are at a 95% vaccination coverage target for this year to the eligible children intended for the campaign.

Children aged 6-59 months will be given one dose of MCV and a Vitamin A supplement while another does will be administered after a month.

The complete dosage of vaccination, according to Yumang, will provide a 90% protection from measles.

The DOH continues to appeal to parents, guardians and caregivers to make sure that children will get the complete dose of MCV to ensure protection from vaccine preventable diseases. (Julianne A. Suarez)