There have now been 31,056 measles cases, including 415 deaths (case-fatality rate, 1.34%) reported in the Philippines since Jan 1
May 2nd, 2019Overview
Current measles outbreak started late 2017 in Mindanao. In 2018, 20,827 cases were reported with 199 deaths. Outbreak and supplementary immunization activities in 2018 were ineffective in addressing the outbreak as the immunization activity was met with increased vaccine hesitancy due to the Dengue vaccine controversy. Weak routine immunization leading to a decrease in overall immunization coverage over the last decade resulted in large immunity gaps among younger children against vaccine preventable diseases including measles.
The Philippines Department of Health (DoH) declared measles outbreaks in 5 Regions (Region NCR, III, IVA, VI, VII) on 7 February 2019, whereas cases are being reported from all 17 Regions. DoH issued guidelines for nation-wide measles vaccination accompanied by Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) and Vitamin A distribution until end March 2019, prioritizing unvaccinated children between 6 and 59 months; schoolchildren from kindergarten to grade 6; and adults who voluntarily wish to be vaccinated against measles.
Current Situation
Between 1 January and 13 April 2019, 31,056 measles cases including 415 deaths were officially reported through the routine surveillance system from the DoH, with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 1,34% (see Table 1).
The number of cases is 368% higher in 2019 than during the same time period in 2018.
With a median age of 3 years old, 52% of measles cases are under 5 years of age. 53% of measles cases are male.
With a median age of 1 year old, 83% of all deaths are children under the age of 5, 59% of measles deaths are male. Most deaths are reported from Region III, IV-A, VIII and NCR.