Measles cases to rise until around ”April, May”: Duque

February 13, 2019

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said measles cases will rise until it subsides around ''April, May.''

“We are still seeing the trend going up. The trend is still increasing. So we cannot say that the trend is starting to reverse because it hasn't,” he said Wednesday.

“I think the most prudent estimation  would be about April, May... probably last week of April to about first few weeks of May,” said Duque. 

Duque said measles cases have gone up to 5,615, including 87 deaths, as of February 11.

Regions with the highest number of cases are Calabarzon (1,434); Metro Manila (1,322); Central Luzon (732); Western Visayas (355); and Northern Mindanao (315).

Duque said measles fast lanes will be opened in all Department of Health hospitals.

“To address the measles outbreak in the country, a measles fast lane in all DOH hospitals will be established,” said Duque.

This, he said, is aside from vaccination activities in schools and communities until March.

“We expect that cases will start to decrease by that time as the number of susceptibles will have already been vaccinated come March,” said Duque.

Last week, the DOH declared measles outbreaks in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, and Central Visayas. 

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said it has installed emergency field medical tents in two hospitals in Manila. The Red Cross will be setting up a 20-bed and a 50-bed outdoor facility at the Philippine General Hospital and San Lazaro Hospital. DMS