At least 17 children die of a suspicion of measles in the city of Sarangani

MEASLES? The Department of Health is monitoring possible cases of measles in the town of Malapatan in Sarangani. Shutterstock's Photo

MANILA, Philippines – At least 17 children from several isolated communities in the town of Malapatan in Sarangani have died of suspected measles in the past 3 weeks.

Enrique Domingo, undersecretary of the Department of Health, confirmed this statement alongside the rapper Tuesday night, November 27.

Domingo said the Ministry of Health had not yet declared a measles outbreak because tests still need to be done to confirm that the children were infected with measles. (QUICK FACTS: What is measles and how can it be prevented?)

He added that the Department of Health also observed and treated 74 other reported cases.

"We are still waiting for confirmation test results. But we are monitoring other cases and doing supplementary measles vaccination for the community, "said Domingo.

The Department of Health has regularly reminded the public to be vaccinated against measles with the nearest health care providers because the disease was supposed to be prevented by vaccination.

Before that, moutbreaks of outbreaks were reported in Negros Oriental, a Barangay in Taguig, Zamboanga City, Davao Region, and the city of Davao.

In response, the DOH launched its supplementary immunization program against measles "Ligtas Tigdas" last April. The supplementary immunization program aims to achieve "collective immunity" status, in which those already infected with measles will be "isolated" from the rest of the population.

However, the program has seen the Ministry of Health achieve its goals with few children vaccinated.

Maria Silva, head of the national immunization program at DOH, said at a press forum in September that many parents were still afraid of free vaccines offered by the government nearly a year after the controversy over Dengvaxia. – Rappler.com