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.