DOH prov’l health team steps up CamNorte measles vaccination drive

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DAET, Camarines Norte -- The Department of Health (DOH) in Camarines Norte has intensified measles vaccination campaign in the province through surveillance and monitoring of cases.

The local government units through the Rural Health Units and Barangay Health Stations are continuously conducting regular immunization under the Expanded Program Immunization (EPI) through measles vaccination to children aged 9 months above. On children 12 to 15 months vaccinations are MMR or Measles, Mumps and Rubella given once to a child.

DOH provincial health team chief Dra. Jocelyn Murillo Iraola said as of January 23 this year there were 22 suspected measles cases recorded in the province, this is higher because in 2013 there were only 13 suspected cases during the year. She explained that measles is highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus wherein most of the affected are children six (6) months to 12 years old.

The virus easily spreads from person to person by sneezing, coughing and close personal contact and among the symptoms are cough, runny nose, red eyes or conjunctivitis, fever and blotchy rash lasting for more than 3 days. She advised the parents of children to immediately consult the doctor if said symptoms will be observed for proper medication and advised.

Measles can cause death through complications like diarrhea, otitis media, pneumonia, encephalitis, malnutrition and blindness. Iraola said that to prevent measles breastfeeding of child since birth until two years old or more is advised to make children strong and healthy and also to immunize their child twice at the age of 9 months and one year old at the nearest health center.

She said that measles vaccinations are free and available at the health centers and advised parents to complete the measles vaccinations of their children. She said that during the consultative meeting on Child/Senior Citizen Immunization conducted recently by the local government units in the municipalities they have tackled and informed health personnel regarding the Expanded Program Immunization (EPI) of the DOH. - ROSALITA B. MANLANGIT