The Bacolod City Health Office (CHO) has reported a suspected measles outbreak at the Metro Bacolod District Jail (MBDJ) in Barangay Handumanan this week.

prison
Jail cell/ National Park service

More than two dozen male inmates have demonstrated symptoms of  fever and rashes.

“We label it as suspected measles unless it is confirmed by laboratory test, through oropharyngeal swab, nasopharyngeal swab or serum, by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine,” Dr. Grace Tan, head of the CHO Environmental Sanitation Division said.

Health officials conducted a measles-rubella (MR) mass immunization for both the male and female inmates.

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About 1000 male and female inmates and the jail staff at the MBDJ were immunized.

It is suspected that the measles virus was brought in by a visitor to the jail.