Measles outbreak in Philippines kills 136

February 20, 2019  13:53

Health officials in the Philippines say more than 130 people, mostly children, have died of measles and 8,400 others have fallen ill in an outbreak largely blamed on vaccination fears.

Infections jumped by more than 1,000 percent in metropolitan Manila, the densely packed capital of more than 12 million people, in January compared with the previous year.

About half of the 136 who died of measles were children aged one to four, according to officials. Many of those who lost their lives had not been inoculated. 

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Monday a massive immunisation drive that started last week in Manila and four provincial regions may contain the outbreak by April.

"No ifs, no buts, no conditions, you just have to bring your children and trust that the vaccines ... will save your children," Duque urged parents. "That's the absolute answer to this outbreak."

In a televised message on Friday, President Rodrigo Duterte warned of fatal complications and urged that children be immunised.

Source: aljazeera.com

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