Measles in the Philippines showing signs of plateauing, Nearly half of cases reported in BARMM
According to the Department of Health in the Philippines, data from the start of the year to April 6, 2024 show that there have been 1,627 cases of Measles-Rubella in the country, with 4 deaths recorded.
Children under ten years old are the most at risk for MR, making up 82% of the total cases. Most are below five years old.
Close to half of the cases (787, 48%) are from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), where a nonselective Measles Outbreak Response Immunization (MORI) is now in the second week of its intensive phase.
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Almost 850,000 (849,728) children in BARMM have been vaccinated for this MORI as of April 14, 2024. The top three BARMM provinces with the highest percentage of target population vaccinated are: Maguindanao del Norte (88.5%); Sulu (79.2%); and
Maguindanao del Sur (72.2%). Only 2.3% of those offered vaccines either deferred or refused.
The national epidemic curve of new cases per week for Measles-Rubella is showing signs of plateauing, which indicates that overall transmission may be slowing down. The protective effects of the MORI may not be seen in the epidemic curve until 4-6 weeks after it started.
Also, the DOH is cautious in interpreting trends as there may either be late reports (i.e., underreported numbers) or cases previously recorded as clinically compatible but later on shown to have negative test results (i.e., overcounted cases).