The Philippines is in the midst of a growing measles crisis, with at least 70 deaths, mainly of

children.

In January, there were 4,302 reported cases of measles in the country, an increase of
122% on the same period last year. The outbreak has been blamed on a backlash against
vaccinations.

The outbreak has continued into February. Last week, a measles outbreak was declared in
Metro Manila – populated by 12 million people with many living in poverty-stricken slums. This
follows 196 reported cases in January, compared to just 20 recorded in the same period last
year. In Manila, 55 children under the age of four have died of measles since the beginning of
the year.

It follows on from reports from the department of health and the World Health Organisation
(WHO) which showed that, as of December 2018, there were more than 20,000 reported
measles cases in the Philippines, a 500% increase on the year before.

Measles is a highly contagious disease, but population immunity can be achieved if more
than 95% of the population is vaccinated. However, in the Philippines, vaccinations are
currently only at 55% according to UNICEF, down 15% on last year. This has been blamed
mainly on fear-mongering over inoculations.

“Immunisation in the Philippines has declined sharply from 88% in 2014 to 73% in
2017, leaving 2.5 million children under five who are not vaccinated for measles,” said
Sylwander. “There has been a notable unwillingness on the part of parents to vaccinate their
children on time.”

UNICEF said following the growing outbreaks in the Philippines they were assisting both local
and national government in an emergency national vaccination drive. “Child death and
illnesses from measles, a vaccine-preventable disease, are unacceptable,” added Sylwander.

According to data from the Epidemiology Bureau, of the 70 who have died from measles since
the beginning of the year, 79% were not vaccinated.

The outbreak in the Philippines follows an alarming wave of measles cases worldwide, which
has been blamed mainly on conspiracies and fear mongering.

MEASLES CASES NOW FOUND IN NEARLY EVERY PROVINCE IN PH

From the initial outbreaks – in Negros Oriental, a barangay in Taguig, Zamboanga City, Davao
Region, and Davao City in 2018 – latest figures showed the disease has spread to every region
in the Philippines.

Three weeks since the DOH declared a measles outbreak in several regions on February 7,
there have been at least 12,736 cases and 203 deaths recorded from January 1 to February 22.

Those numbers show a steep climb from the number of cases and deaths recorded in the same
period in 2018. The increase showed there are now 357% more cases of measles compared to
the same time last year when there were 2,789 cases.
With more cases comes the bigger possibility of more fatalities. Compared to when there were
25 deaths due to measles from January 1 to February 22, 2018, there was now a 712%
increase in fatalities with at least 203 deaths recorded so far.

MEASLES CASES BREACH 8,000-MARK OVER A WEEK SINCE OUTBREAK

A week after a measles outbreak was declared in several regions in the country, over 8,000
cases have been recorded, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

The DOH’s latest count as of 9 am, Saturday, February 16, listed 8,443 measles cases since
January 1 this year. This is already 253% higher than the number of incidences
accounted in the same period in 2018. The previous mark was 2,393 cases.

Data likewise showed a continuous climb in the number of deaths, with 136 fatalities
reported as of Saturday. These numbers translate to an increase of 491% from the same
period last year, when there were 23 deaths due to measles.

The number of deaths is nearly double the tally announced by the DOH last week, when 70
deaths were recorded as of February 9, 2019.

VPD DOH SURVEILLANCE

VPD JANUARY JANUARY-MAY

MEASLES - RUBELLA 1,823 36, 915

DIPTHERIA 4 69
PERTUSSIS 8 59
NEONATAL TETANUS 2 24
POLIO 85