The number of measles cases in the Philippines has been up dramatically in 2014 and the region of the Central Visayas has seen a greater than 1200 percent jump compared to 2013 numbers.

Republic of the Philippines
Image/CIA

The Department of Health in Region VII (DOH-7) reported yesterday, from January to September 13, 2014, there has been 1,387 cases with 7 deaths. This is a huge 1260% increase from the 102 cases and no deaths from 2013.

Cebu City has been hit the hardest with 508 cases.

Nationally, the World Health Organization, in their report, “Reported measles cases and incidence rates by WHO Member States 2013, 2014 as of 08 September 2014”, the Philippines has seen 84,738 measles cases to date (43,842 suspected, 40,896 confirmed).

According to the report, only 5,762 confirmed measles cases were reported in 2013.

Another WHO report, the Measles-Rubella Bulletin for Aug. 2014 reports the archipelago as having 60,804 total cases (44,624 suspected and 16,180 confirmed)

Either way, the Philippines has seen a lot of measles this year. This has prompted the Department of Health to start the measles vaccination campaign, Ligtas Tigdas this month, offering free measles vaccines to children across the country. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page