Via The Visayan Daily Star: 'Measles cases still alarming'. Excerpt:
Measles and leptospirosis cases in Negros Occidental continue to remain higher this year compared to 2011, while dengue fever and typhoid cases have dropped, Provincial Health Office reports released yesterday, showed.
Measles cases in Negros Occidental from December 17, 2011 to June 28 this year were 244 compared to 11 last year, which is alarming, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said.
Negros Occidental has the most number of measles cases in Western Visayas, he said.
To curb the increase in measles, outbreak response immunization campaigns are being implemented in affected areas, he said, noting that the bulk of those hit have been those aged 9 to 19 years old, who had not been covered by previous DOH immunization drives.
Those targeted for immunization in the age group affected are 9,000, Tumimbang said.
Hit by measles were Kabankalan City with 56 cases, Himamaylan – 53, Binalbagan – 39, Bago City – 19, Moises Padilla – 15, Isabela – 13, La Castellana – 11, Valladolid - 11, Ilog – 5, Sagay City – 3, Talisay City – 3, Cauayan – 2, Victorias City – 2, and Pontevedra – 2.
Cadiz City, La Carlota City, Murcia, Hinigaran, San Enrique, Sipalay City, Candoni, Toboso, San Carlos City, and Don Salvador Benedicto had one case each.
Meanwhile, Dr. Grace Tan of the Bacolod City Health Office said 39 cases of measles were recorded from January to June 16 this year, with a 7-month-old as lone fatality, compared to 33 cases for the whole of 2011.
LEPTOSPIROSIS
Leptospirosis cases in Negros Occidental are 14 percent higher this year compared to 2011, Tumimbang said. There have been 56 cases of leptospirosis and seven deaths recorded this year, compared to 49 cases and eight deaths in the same period in 2011, he said.
