DOH raises alarm over 4 measles deaths in Samar Island

PALO, Leyte, Aug. 24  --  The death of four children in Samar provinces due to measles is very alarming as it came after decades of carrying out immunization program, said an official of the Department of Health (DOH) regional office here on Friday.

The highly contagious disease has killed three children in the remote town of Silvino Lobos in Northern Samar and a child in Catbalogan City, the capital of Samar province this year.

The latest victim is a 10-month-old girl in Silvino Lobos town as her parents failed to bring the child to the health center for immunization.

“Our health workers visited the house of the family several times, but no one is at home. The father was busy with carpentry works and the mother went somewhere,” said Elaine Joy Villarosa, Department of Health national immunization program manager for Eastern Visayas (Region 8).

The DOH recorded 76 cases of measles from January to third week of August this year in six provinces of the Region 8.  In the entire 2017, at least 80 children suffered the disease, but no fatality.

“Measles immunization starts at nine months. Some of the victims are younger than nine months or what we call the window period. These children got the disease from older children whose parents missed the scheduled immunization activity,” Villarosa explained.

Measles immunization provided by the government for free saves children's lives as it prevents children from getting seriously ill.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It remains one of the top caused of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine, according to the World Health Organization.

Measles is transmitted via droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of infected persons. Initial symptoms, which usually appear 10–12 days after infection, include high fever, a runny nose, bloodshot eyes, and tiny white spots on the inside of the mouth.

Several days later, rashes will develop, starting on the face and upper neck and gradually spreading downwards.

The DOH has reiterated its call to support the government’s immunization program this year that will benefit 213,717 children in the region.

The health department has been conducting its regular mass vaccination to combat polio, measles, tetanus, meningitis, diphtheria, and tuberculosis.

The immunization program targets 129,370 children 0 to 12 years old and 84,347 Grades 1 to 7 school children in the region.

The DOH pushed for vaccination noting that in the past two years, there are still confirmed cases of fatal diseases preventable by vaccines. (SQM/PNA)