CEBU CITY – The declaration of a measles outbreak in Region 7 may be lifted soon.
Dr. Jaime Bernadas, director of the Department of Health in Central Visayas, said they are just awaiting the go signal from the national office for the lifting of the declaration.
Bernadas said the DoH 7 has completed its outbreak response and measles cases have declined in the past two weeks this month.
It was last February when DoH declared measles outbreak in nine regions, including Central Visayas.
In Region 7, DoH 7 recorded 1,895 cases of measles with 14 deaths from January to June this year.
The total measles cases this year was 754 percent higher compared to last year which only had 222 with only one death.
The most number of cases was recorded in Lapu-Lapu City with 496 followed by the cities of Cebu (135), Talisay (105), Mandaue (73), and Toledo (47).
Bernadas said mapping is continuing to determine the areas that have yet to be given with measles vaccines.
DoH 7 Assistant Regional Director Elenietta Gamolo said the DoH 7 will also conduct school-based immunization. “We want to ensure that these school children will not be afflicted with measles. We have to cut off the transmission,” said Gamolo. (Calvin D. Cordova)