Amid the Department of Health declaring a measles outbreak in the Western Visayas, Negros Occidental provincial health officer, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, attributed the high number of cases to parents not taking their children in for immunizations.

He said the Provincial Health Office (PHO) is currently conducting an information dissemination campaign in order to inform the public of the effects of measles, particularly for children.

“We are doing everything to address the situation,” Tumimbang insisted. “It’s a matter of looking for these children to be given with our routine vaccination.”

He also affirmed they are equipped with a sufficient supply of vaccinations.

Tumimbang said PHO is aiming for a 95 percent immunization rate this year./DGB, WDJ