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MANILA, March 21 (Xinhua) – The number of measles cases in the Philippines has continued to increase, reaching 21,396 since the first case recorded in January this year, and 315 have already died of the viral disease, reported Thursday official data.
Cases were recorded from January 1 to March 14, according to the Epidemiology Office of the Philippines Department of Health (DOH).
The Department of Health reported that the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon (Calabarzon) had the highest number of measles cases and deaths, with 4,401 and 87 respectively.
Next come the National Capital Region (NCR) with 4,266 cases and 85 deaths.
The Department of Health noted that the most affected age group was between one and four years with 6,180 cases, or 29%, and 142 deaths or 45%, followed by patients under 9 months of age with 5 432 cases, or 25%, with 122 deaths or 39 percent.
The country's health department also noted that 12,756 people, or 60 per cent of those who had contracted airborne disease, as well as 245 people, or 78 per cent of those who died, had not been vaccinated.
On February 6, the Department of Health declared a "measles epidemic" in Metro Manila. On February 7, the Department of Health declared that the measles outbreak had spread to other areas of the main island of the Philippines, Luzon, the western Visayas and the central Visayas, to Central Philippines.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease transmitted by droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of infected people. The first symptoms usually appear 10 to 12 days after infection. Common complications include pneumonia and diarrhea.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 5 to 10% of infected young children may have died.
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