Facade of the DOH foremost workplace in Manila. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Division of Well being (DOH) on Wednesday reported that there are 2,118 circumstances of measles-rubella (MR) within the nation as of Might 10, 2025, which is eight p.c greater than similar interval final 12 months.
The DOH mentioned that of this determine, 2068 are measles circumstances.
In keeping with the World Well being Group (WHO), measles is a extremely contagious viral illness that continues to be “an vital reason behind demise amongst younger kids,” whereas rubella is a contagious viral an infection that usually happens amongst kids and younger adults.
The DOH famous that the 5 areas with the best circumstances of MR are: Nationwide Capital Area (642 circumstances); Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) (289 circumstances); Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) (148 circumstances); Central Luzon (146 circumstances); and Zamboanga Peninsula (137 circumstances).
READ: DOH: 1,185 measles circumstances logged from Jan.1 to March 15
It additionally famous a lower in reported circumstances within the Bangsamoro area with 121 circumstances, from the 1179 circumstances reported from the identical interval final 12 months.
In the meantime, the company mentioned that the case fatality fee is at 0.42%, a slight lower of 0.46% from final 12 months.
What the WHO says
The WHO on Wednesday sounded alarm on the rising circumstances of measles within the Western Pacific Area, notably the Philippines, Cambodia, Mongolia, and Vietnam, and the falling protection of vaccines.
In keeping with WHO, Philippines, Cambodia, Mongolia, and Vietnam recorded a pointy enhance in circumstances of measles within the first months of 2025 in comparison with the identical interval final 12 months.
Vietnam reported 81,691 suspected measles circumstances in 63 provinces and cities because the starting of 2025 whereas Cambodia logged 2,150 circumstances of measles between January and April 2025. Mongolia recorded 2,682 confirmed circumstances as of Might 21.
READ: Vaccines saved 154 million lives in 50 years — WHO
“Measles circumstances throughout the area at the moment are at their highest stage since 2020,” the WHO mentioned in a press release.
The WHO additionally emphasised that measles may end up in severe issues to kids’s well being akin to pneumonia, mind injury, and lifelong incapacity.
WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific Dr. Saia Piukala mentioned that the alarming rise of measles circumstances “highlights the susceptible kids who’re being left behind — those that haven’t obtained even a single dose of vaccine, residing in underserved communities, missed by routine immunization and vaccination campaigns.”
DOH’s immunization program
Because the WHO noticed declining vaccine belief and protection within the Western Pacific Area, the DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa’s affirmation of the company’s dedication to strengthen routine immunization within the Philippines through the recently-concluded 78th World Well being Meeting in Switzerland.
“Routine vaccination ought to be performed sooner, greater, stronger, and collectively,” Herbosa mentioned in his closing remarks within the meeting.
Knowledge from the DOH confirmed that as of February 2025, the nationwide Absolutely-Immunized Baby protection, or kids receiving all beneficial vaccines earlier than their first birthday, solely reached 64.58%. The annual immunization protection objective of the WHO and DOH is at 95%.
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The DOH famous that the “Bakuna BayaniJuan: Massive Catch-up Immunization” program, launched within the Nationwide Capital Area from November 17 to December 16, 2024, vaccinated 1,753,950 people. /jpv
