Local health officials are now monitoring and evaluating the situation in the Virac barangay of San Isidro Village due to a confirmed case of measles.
Last week, officials from the Department of Health (DOH) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) visited Vice Governor Peter Cua at his office at the Legislative Building to discuss the development.
Dr. Maita Bobis, National Immunization Program (NIP) regional manager Desiree Bricenio, Nais Suraik of the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC), and UNICEF consultant Nancy Pastrana, along with PHO NIP coordinator Anita Chiong, likewise discussed with the vice governor the immediate vaccination against measles of people in the adjacent barangays to prevent transmission.
Sources claim that the report of just one measles case is just the tip of the iceberg, as other suspect cases have been brought to other health facilities including one patient from the northern town who reportedly died while undergoing treatment.
In past outbreaks, the DOH asked local governments to scale-up their response against measles by requiring all unvaccinated children vaccinated against measles in order to further stop its spread.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus and it is transferred from person-to-person by sneezing, coughing, and close personal contact.
Its signs and symptoms include cough, runny nose, red eyes/conjunctivitis, fever, skin rashes lasting for more than 3 days.
The disease’s complications included diarrhea, middle ear infection, pneumonia (infection of the lungs), encephalitis (swelling of the brain), malnutrition, blindness which may lead to death.
“Nutritional support and oral rehydration are important measures to increase body resistance and replace lost body fluids caused by coughing, diarrhea, and perspiration,” the DOH stated, adding that immunization and vitamin A supplementation of nine-month old children are the best defenses against measles.
Health officials are advising mothers, the public to bring all suspect cases to the nearest health facility for early treatment and proper case management.