South Cotabato suspected measles on the rise
KORONADAL CITY,
(Sept. 15/NDBC) – Health authorities here said four children have died due to measles assuspectedmeasles cases in South Cotabato
rose to more than 950 this year.
Nineteen of
these suspected cases are confirmed measles,” Cecil Lorenzo, Provincial Epidemiology
Surveillance Unit (PESU) head told DXOM-Koronadal, adding that her office
recorded 955 suspected cases from January to date.
Lorenzo said measles
cases in South Cotabato for the first nine months of 2014 was higher compared
to 2011, when measles outbreak was declared in the Philippines.
Lorenzo said
many of the monitored measles cases involved children with age
ranges from 9- year-old and below who are yet to receive anti-measles vaccines. Four of these
succumbed to the disease,” Lorenzo said.
The Integrated
Provincial Health Office (IPHO)-South Cotabato has been appealing to all parents
in the province to avail of on-going mass measles and oral rubella polio
vaccination.
Eligible for
vaccination, Lorenzo said, are children who are 5 years old and below. (NDBC)