The Department of Health advised parents or guardians to bring their children to the different health centers for immunization from measles.

From Feb. 2 to March 3, Baguio City has recorded 47 suspected cases of measles and one death from measles complications.

Suspected cases are any persons, regardless of age, having a history of fever and rashes and exhibiting any one of these signs: cough, red eyes, and runny nose.

Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus transmitted through infected air containing droplets of the virus or direct contact with an infected person.

There is no cure for measles and measles does not cause death. However, children may die from complications of the disease like pneumonia and brain infection. Other complications are severe under-nutrition, vitamin A deficiency leading to blindness, ear infection and deafness, diarrhea and dehydration, or severe skin infections.

In response to the unusual rise of suspected cases, the City Health Services Office (CHSO) has started conducting a measles vaccination drive to abet further complications that may arise among the un-immunized and to boost the immunity of those who were previously immunized.

Measles vaccination is the only protection from contracting the disease.

The CHSO is now providing measles vaccines to infants six months old until one year old.

Normally, the government’s Expanded Program on Immunization gives free measles vaccines to nine-month-old infants since at earlier ages they still have protection derived from the mother. However, infants less than nine months old who are immunized at this time should have a repeat dose upon reaching nine months or until they become one year old.

The DOH shall help facilitate the vaccination of infants and school children by providing logistical support to the city and the provinces.

“If we have to identify the lesson to learn from this incident, it is to prevent or to minimize cases of the un-immunized,” said Dr. Myrna Cabotaje of the DOH.