Here are some current infectious disease news stories from the Philippines:
Measles
In the Western Visayas, fear over vaccines due to the Dengvaxia debacle are beginning to wane as higher coverage for measles vaccine is being observed.
DOH-Center for Health Development 6 (Western Visayas) Medical Officer III, Dr. Mary Jane Roches Juanico, said Friday that as of March 27, about 55 percent or 328,056 of the 595,023 target children from six months to 59 months had already been vaccinated.
Phase 1 of the SIA, which covered 32 local government units (LGUs), vaccinated 132,144 children while Phase 2, which involved 101 LGUs, was able to reach out to 134,823 children.
Dr. Juanico said that those who refused shot in schools still expressed fear of vaccination due to the Dengvaxia scare.
As of March 28, the region has already registered 1,621 suspected cases with six deaths.
Dengue
In the Calabarzon region, dengue cases have reached nearly 6,000 cases this year.
A total of 5,910 cases of dengue fever, leading to 21 fatalities, were recorded in the Calabarzon Region (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) from Jan. 1 to March 23 this year, the Regional Surveillance and Epidemiology Unit (RESU) reported.
Top cities and municipalities with the most number of dengue cases are Dasmariñas City – 355; Lipa City – 295; Batangas City – 277; Bacoor City – 275; Calamba City – 255; Imus City – 224; Lopez – 219; San Pablo City – 208; Tanauan City – 181; and General Trias City -176.
In Soccsksargen region, officials urged the public to help address the rising number of dengue cases, following the death of 13 patients due to the disease since January this year.
As of March 23, the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU) reported 13 deaths and 3,783 hospitalized due to dengue.
“Last year, we have four deaths during the same period. Now we have 13″.
RESU data showed that North Cotabato recorded the highest incidence of dengue, with 1,362 while South Cotabato came in next with 1,103. Sultan Kudarat (463), Sarangani (373), General Santos City (300), and Cotabato City (182).
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