ILOILO – The Provincial Health Office recorded 119 suspected cases of measles last year.
The municipality of Concepcion had the most number of cases at 14, followed by Sara and Lambunao (13 cases each).
Other towns with high cases were Ajuy (nine), Barotac Nuevo (eight), Barotac Viejo (seven), Pototan (seven), San Dionisio (six), Lemery (four), and Calinog (three).
Meanwhile, the towns that reported zero cases were Balasan, San Enrique, Cabatuan, Igbaras, Tubungan, San Joaquin, Dueñas, Banate, Badiangan, and Alimodian.
“Ang suspected measles cases sadtong 2020 naglab-ot sa 119 and ang na-confirm naton nagdangat sa 36,” said Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, chief of the PHO.
The affected age groups were 16 to 20 years old, 21 cases; 21 to 30 years old, 21 cases; 11 to 15 years old, 19 cases; nine to 11 months, 11 cases; less than nine months, 10 cases; six to 10 years old, 10 cases; 30 to 40 years old, 10 cases; one to five years old, nine cases; and 41 years old and above, eight cases.
Specimens of 36 confirmed measles cases were examined through polymerase chain reaction (a laboratory technique used to make multiple copies of a segment of DNA) conducted by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.
These cases were from Lambunao (seven), Ajuy (five), Sara (four), Concepcion and Barotac Viejo (three each), Barotac Nuevo (two); Pototan, San Dionisio, Lemery, Calinog , Mina, Guimbal, Zarraga, Estancia, Bingawan, Maasin, Carles and Santa Barbara (one each).
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), before the introduction of measles vaccine to the world in 1963, major epidemics occurred approximately every two to three years and measles caused an estimated 2.6 million deaths each year.
Approximately 89,780 people died from measles in 2016 – mostly children under the age of five years, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine, said WHO.
The measles virus is normally passed through direct contact and through the air. The virus infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body.
The first sign of measles is usually a high fever, which begins about 10 to 12 days after exposure to the virus, and lasts four to seven days. A runny nose, a cough, red and watery eyes, and small white spots inside the cheeks can develop in the initial stage.
After several days, a rash erupts, usually on the face and upper neck. Over about three days, the rash spreads, eventually reaching the hands and feet. The rash lasts for five to six days, and then fades.
On average, the rash occurs 14 days after exposure to the virus (within a range of seven to 18 days), according to WHO./PN
