CHO: Youngest patient is a three-month-old baby

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Based on the latest monitoring by the Bacolod City Health Office (CHO), the number of “suspected” measles cases in the city has increased to 53.

CHO Environment and Sanitation Division head, Dr. Grace Tan, yesterday said the cases remain “suspected” as they are still awaiting confirmatory tests, which are being conducted by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

The CHO official said Barangay Taculing is currently reporting the highest number of suspected cases with seven. Meanwhile, Barangays Mansilingan has six, Bata–four, and Alijis–three.

In addition, the youngest patient is reportedly a three-month-old baby, while the oldest is 45 years old.

Tan said, if they compare the number of incidents between this year and last year, they did not record any measles cases and it only started in March of last year.

There were a total of 263 cases last year, with two fatalities.

“As of now we still do not have any deaths related to measles,” she added.

Following the declaration of a measles outbreak in the Western Visayas, CHO has stepped up immunization in schools, barangays, and door-to-door operations.

They are targeting those aged between six months and 12 months old for immunizations.

Earlier, Bacolod City Councilor Em Ang met with CHO officials to discuss stepping up measures in response to the declaration.

The city official said the CHO and barangay health centers will strengthen their respective immunization campaigns, monitor for new cases, and carry out DOH orders calling on mothers and caregivers to be more vigilant when it comes to the disease.

CHO will also be setting up a vaccination desk in order to provide city employees and healthcare personnel with immunizations.

DOH in the Western Visayas has earlier recorded a total of 104 measles cases, which attributed to three fatalities this year, as compared to 16 cases last year./DGB, WDJ