By Mary Adrian Bautista
“Measles elimination can be achieved if measles vaccine coverage is at least 95 percent in every district,” this was a statement from Department of Health’s (DOH) Assistant Secretary, Dr. Eric Tayag, for the prevention of measles outbreak in the Philippines that is rapidly increasing as of Dec. 2013.
There were 1,724 measles with 21 death cases from Jan. 1 to Dec. 14 according to the National Epidemiology Center of DOH. As measles can spread through respiration, contact with fluids from an infected person’s nose and mouth, either directly or through aerosol transmission. It is highly contagious because 90 percent of people without immunity sharing living space with can be infected. According to Dr. Tayag “A person who enters a room where a person with measles has just left can still get measles as virus can live up to two hours outside the host body.”
Measles are caused by viruses that are air born and humans are its natural host. People with this disease have four-day fever that can reach up to 40 degree Celsius, cough, head cold, red eyes and rashes. Measles are easy to cure but its side effects can kill such as pneumonia, acute diarrhea with severe dehydration or acute encephalitis. It can be prevented by measles-mumps-rubella-varicella combo (MMRV vaccine) that is vaccinated in children with 12-15 months of age and will be given a second dose at age 4-6 years old. Measles have no specific treatment but uncomplicated measles are cured by rest and basic medicine and medical advice from a professional.
Health officials said that there is a need for a door-to-door vaccination for more efficient protection against measles specially those who are expectant mothers, have low immune systems and children. DOH started a nationwide vaccination for children because measles are prone in children and completely eliminate measles cases by 2017.
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