2019 Measles Outbreak

Situation Overview

Measles cases are rising in the Philippines with the Department of Health (DOH)
declaring outbreaks in five regions in the country, including in Metro Manila. The
DOH reported over 4,300 confirmed measles cases from 1 January to 13
February 2019. Severe complications from measles have also claimed the lives
of 70 people, 1 in 3 of which were children younger than nine months old.
According to the DOH surveillance data, more than 80 per cent of 2.6 million
unvaccinated children are in the seven regions which have declared outbreaks
- Regions III, IVA, IVB, VI, VII, VIII, and the National Capital Region. In San Lazaro
Hospital in Manila, three wards have been opened to accommodate the influx
of patients from Metro Manila and neighbouring regions.

Government response and humanitarian coordination

On 11 February, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council

(NDRRMC) requested its regional disaster offices to convene their respective
response clusters to monitor possible outbreaks in their respective areas.
Government agencies continue to respond assisting with distributing vaccine,
deploying medical personnel to promote awareness and provide immunization.
The Department of Education is gathering data on measles cases and
conducting evaluations in schools.

The DOH met with international health partners on 15 February to provide

updates on the response to the outbreak. In attendance were OCHA, WHO,
UNICEF, UNFPA, IOM, Save the Children, Asian Development Bank, and a
representative from the British Embassy. DOH already activated its Incident
Command System to implement the nationwide vaccination campaign which
will target 95% of the estimated 2.6 million unvaccinated children under 5 years.
Children 0 to 59 months old will also be provided with polio vaccine as the
Philippines is on the watch list for possible disease outbreak. DOH reported that it
has in-country stockpiles of five million doses of measles vaccine. With the
declaration of an outbreak, the agency was able to access its emergency
response funds which allows it to procure, through UNICEF, one million vaccines
expected to arrive in March. DOH has further requested UNICEF to facilitate the
purchase of another five million vaccines which it expects to be delivered in four
to eight weeks.

WHO and UNICEF are working closely with the Department of Health to contain
the outbreak. Both agencies are providing technical and some funding support
to the national programme in the planning, implementation and monitoring of
response activities. UNICEF is responding to a request of DOH to provide tents
which will be used for the vaccination programme and will also mobilize its NGO
network for support.

Opinions and comments about the said issue:

Measles are dangerous diseases especially for children. That is

why, it is so sad that there are some who already died, which mostly
are babies. It is a very contagious disease, and most people that are
affected are living in squatters’ area, which is a crowded and
shallow-spaced area to live in, that maybe is the reason why so
many were affected.

The plus factor of having the said disease in such an environment is,
having a poor hygiene. You see, we know that most of the squatters’
areas in Manila are dirty. Their houses aren’t comfortable. Another
factor perhaps is overpopulation. As I said the squatters are very
crowded.

It is somehow good that the government is taking actions, as well as

the various Non-government Organizations. With their help people
will have knowledge about the said outbreak, so they can prepare
how to prevent having such health issue.

But most people aren’t convinced that the government really is

taking actions. Why? Because, seventy have already died. They
were too late. Well, for me yes, they were a little too late, they have
their own fault as well, but I think it is good enough that they are
trying to prevent the outbreak to spread even more.