DOH asks public to get vaccinated vs measles amid rise in cases

MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) is "concerned" and "on alert" as it sees a week-on-week upward trend of measles (tigdas) cases, recording 1,627 cases from January 1 to April 6--a number five times higher than the 308 cases in 2023.

An outbreak has already been declared in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), with 48% of the country's measles cases coming from the region, DOH spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said Thursday.

"Kami ay nababahala, so alerto kami dito. Hindi kami naaalarma kasi 'pag sinabi nating alerto, alam nating may magagawa pa. This is going up, pero pag wala tayong ginawa, 'pag di tayo nagbakuna, doon tayo magkakaproblema," he told ABS-CBN News.

(We are concerned, so we are on alert. We are not alarmed because when we say 'alert', we know we can still do something about it. This is going up, but if we do not do anything, if we do not vaccinate, we have a problem.)

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"Kumpara sa COVID-19, kumpara sa tusperina o sa pertussis, mas mabilis po makahawa ang measles. Ninety percent... ng mga taong nakapaligid sa isang pasyenteng may measles, pag sila ay hindi bakunado ay maaaring mahawa," he added.

(Compared to COVID-19 or pertussis, measles is more contagious, Ninety percent of people surrounding a measles patient could be infected if they are not vaccinated.)

Domingo, who is also a doctor, said measles can be infectious four days before rashes show and four days after they heal. The virus behind the disease can live in the air around a patient for up to two hours, even after they leave a room.

Domingo explained rashes start to appear on the face, down to other body parts.

But another concerning nature of measles are the complications that come with it, especially when severe, which includes pneumonia and encephalitis - or the inflammation of the brain - that may be fatal.

"Hindi po siya nagagamot tulad ng tusperina (pertussis) dahil iyong tusperina merong antibiotic. Ang measles virus po siya, ang ginagawa lang ng doktor is iyong tinatawag na supportive care. Ibig sabihin, bibigyan ng swero, babantayan, papababain iyong lagnat pero wala tayong magagawa doon sa virus kundi antayin natin na humupa siya... Wala siyang mismong gamot doon sa virus, symptomatic treatment ang ginagawa sa kanya," he said.

(It is untreatable unlike pertussis because that has antibiotics. Measles is a virus, and doctors can only give supportive care--giving serums, observing, reducing fever, but we cannot do anything about the virus but wait for it to subside. There is no medicine for the virus, just symptomatic treatment.)

DOH: No need to declare nationwide measles outbreak

MEASLES VACCINE SUPPLY ENOUGH

Domingo said vaccination is the best way to prevent measles, along with practicing respiratory hygiene, staying at home when not feeling well, and consulting a doctor if symptoms persist.

He assured enough supply of vaccines for nationwide routine childhood immunization in health centers and in public schools, and for the outbreak response in BARMM.

In the said region, 944,595 out of 1.3 million target children have been vaccinated as of April 16.

The DOH has an inventory of 3.7 million doses of the 3-in-1 measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccines and 1.7 million doses of the 2-in-1 measles-rubella vaccine as of April 17, Domingo said.

The health department has ordered additional MMR vaccine doses--5.7 million coming by June and July, another 5 million by the third quarter, and 1.4 million by the fourth quarter.

Domingo shared adults can still get vaccinated against measles, but children below 5 years old are more prone to the illness as they have weaker immune system compared to adults.

"Hindi naman ibig sabihin na lahat tayong matatanda sa Pilipinas ay kailangang pumila para magpabakuna. Similar doon sa tusperina, unahin po natin iyong mga bata kasi ang pinakamaraming impeksyon ng tigdas na nakikita namin ay sa bata. Kapag pinaligiran natin ng bakuna ang mga bata, matitigil ang hawa at tayo mismong matatanda, hindi na kailangang magbakuna. So unahin natin iyong mga bata in this case," he said.

(We are not saying all of us adults in the Philippines need to line up to be jabbed. Like pertussis, children need to be prioritized because they show the highest incidences of infections for measles. Once children are protected by vaccines, the spread will be contained and adults would not all need to be vaccinated. So let's vaccinate children first in this case.)

NOT 'BULUTONG-TUBIG'

Measles is a respiratory disease that can be spread through coughs and sneezes.

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"Nandoon ka lang sa paligid, kahit humihinga iyong pasyenteng may tigdas ay baka mahawa ka," Domingo shared.

(You're just around, even if a patient with measles is just breathing, you are at risk to be infected.)

He reminded patients with symptoms--cough, colds, eye redness, fever, and rashes-- to consult immediately with doctors, call health centers, and start isolation in a room with good ventilation.

People taking care of patients should meanwhile wear face masks and constantly wash their hands.

The official asked the public, especially children, to get vaccinated against measles, as doses are safe and accessible in health centers.

"'Pag tayo ay na-offer-an [ng bakuna], mayroong mga lugar - tulad ng sa Bangsamoro, kumakatok na po kami sa ating pintuan - tanggapin po natin nang buong puso," Domingo said.

(If we are offered vaccinations, such as in areas like the Bangsamoro, we are already knocking on doors--let us wholeheartedly accept it.)

He also debunked claims that measles is similar to "bulutong-tubig" or chickenpox.

"Marami pong dahilan ng pagtanggi sa bakuna. Ang pinakamalaking nakikita naming dahilan ay okay lang naman magkaroon ng tigdas kasi mawawala rin. Mga kabayan, iyong sinasabi niyo, hindi po tigdas iyon, bulutong-tubig po iyon. Meron tayong misconception na ang tigdas ay parang bulutong-tubig na hinahawa lang at kumbaga kasama sa paglaki. Hindi po ganoon ang tigdas. Ang tigdas po ay nakamamatay kapag hindi naiwasan," Domingo explained.

(There are many reasons people refuse to be vaccinated--the most common being that people think it is ok to get measles because it will eventually get well. But that's not measles, it's chickenpox. We have that misconception that they're the same and safe to get infected. No, it can be deadly.)

"Kami po naman ay hindi nananakot. Nagpapaalala lang po na gawin natin ang kaya nating gawin sa tulong ng ating mga doktor, ng DOH na nariyan naman ang mga bakuna para maiwasan ang tigdas," he added.

(We are not fearmongering, we are just reminding everyone to do what they can with the help of our doctors and the DOH with the vaccines to prevent measles infections.)