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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Measles-rubella cases rise by 8% as of May 2025 — DOH

Measles-rubella cases rise by 8% as of May 2025 — DOH

Published May 29, 2025 02:21 pm
(MB FILE PHOTO)
(MB FILE PHOTO)
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Measles-rubella cases in the Philippines rose by eight percent in the first five months of 2025 compared to the same period last year, the Department of Health (DOH) said.

In response to the uptick, the health department said it is intensifying routine immunization programs nationwide to prevent further outbreaks, especially among vulnerable children.

As of May 10, the agency recorded 2,118 measles-rubella (MR) cases, with 2,068 confirmed measles cases.

Data showed that the most affected regions are the National Capital Region (642 cases), CALABARZON (289), MIMAROPA (148), Central Luzon (146), and the Zamboanga Peninsula (137).

Despite the increase, the DOH noted that the case fatality rate slightly decreased to 0.42 percent, down from 0.46 percent during the same period in 2024.

One notable improvement came from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which logged only 121 cases this year, compared to 1,179 cases last year.

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa credited the sharp drop to targeted outbreak response efforts.

“Last year, President Marcos told me to solve the measles outbreak in BARMM. With the strong cooperation of our Bangsamoro brothers and sisters, we vaccinated 1,203,497 individuals as part of a Measles Outbreak Response Immunization (MORI). This kind of vaccination effort is what we must do, on a routine basis,” he said.

As of February 2025, DOH data showed that Fully Immunized Child (FIC) coverage for 2024 was 64.85 percent, far from the 95 percent target set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“Routine vaccination should be done faster, higher, stronger, and together,” Herbosa added.

The DOH also reported success in reducing pertussis cases, from 2,968 in early 2024 to just 200 this year during the same January to May 10 period.

“We have more proof that the DOH can do it. When President Marcos told me to contain the Pertussis outbreak in 2024, intensified nationwide vaccination brought the numbers down,” Herbosa said.

To address low vaccine coverage, the DOH is expanding its Bakuna BayaniJuan catch-up campaign and school-based vaccination drives.

The Big Catch-up campaign in NCR last year vaccinated 1.75 million individuals, while the school-based program has already reached 3.8 million students nationwide.

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