The Health Services Office City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit has called on parents to visit the nearest health center and have their child vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR).
CESU head Donnabel Panes said latest data of the CESU showed only 60 percent had MMR vaccine as opposed to the 95 percent target.
Panes said complications for measles are pneumonia and meningitis, which need immediate medical attention.
MMR vaccines are administered at nine months with a second dose at one year, but if an outbreak occurs, the vaccines may be given at six months for precautionary measures, Panes said.
Symptoms for measles are fever, conjunctivitis, coryza, and cough and rashes which may occur within three days. The patient needs bed rest and liquids and should avoid crowds to prevent the illness from spreading. Complications, however may occur, thus the need to preempt the illness through complete vaccination for MMR at the health centers.
The CESU is monitoring at least 20 diseases, including those that are vaccine preventable, vector-borne, food and water-borne and zoonotic diseases.
Surveillance is done as an increase or outbreak of these cases, would be borne by the hospitals and the public health system. – Julie G. Fianza
