Lanao villagers get anti-measles shots; outbreak of disease prevented

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 23, 2010) – The Department of Health in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said it has contained a possible measles outbreak on coastal town in Lanao del Sur province, according to a report by the ARMM's Bureau of Public Information.

It said health workers rushed to the town of Balabagan after the reported breakout of measles in villages.

Regional Health Secretary Dr. Kadil Sinolinding Jr. in a report to acting ARMM Governor Ansaruddin Adiong said villagers were given immunizations tom protect them from the disease.

Adiong earlier ordered health workers to intensify immunization in the province following the outbreak of measles in Balabagan.

“Please do everything possible to address the reported outbreak,” Adiong told Sinolinding.

Sinolinding said he immediately sent health workers to investigate the report and conduct immunization against measles especially on children to avoid epidemic.

Sinolinding said seven adults and a one-year old child had been infected with measles, but there had been no reported deaths in the town.

Measles is an airborne disease and is contagious, Sinolinding said, prodding the public especially the parents to have their children immunized in health clinics across the region.

In 2004, the Health department launched the Ligtas Tigdas Campaign which aimed to vaccinate door-to-door some 18 million children between 9 months to 8 years old in the country. It resulted to decreased measles cases in the by 96 percent and death from measles by about 99 percent.

Prior to Ligtas Tigdas campaign, an estimated 6,000 children, mostly from poor families, died from measles.

“DOH-ARMM will continue to deliver the basic health services due our people in the region as concrete manifestation of the seriousness of regional governor Adiong to address the health requirement of his people,” Sinolinding said.

He said the symptoms of measles include fever, general weakness and occasionally red eyes. But these symptoms usually come before skin rash confirming the onset of the disease. It is transmitted through droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of infected person. (Becky de Asis contributed to this report.)

Diarrhea Kills 2 In South RP

A man holds his child Sunday September 16, 2007 as a medical technologist gets a rectal swab sample and a mountain spring where villagers get their water for food in North Upi town in Shariff Kabunsuan province in southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo/Mark Navales)

SHARIFF KABUNSUAN, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / 16 Sept) – Two people had died and five dozens more were infected with a still unknown disease in two remote villages in the southern Philippines, health officials said Sunday.

Health workers and doctors rushed to North Upi town in the province of Shariff Kabunsuan where at least 47 villagers fell sick.

Doctors on Sunday put up temporary emergency stations in the village of Tubuan and Lahangkup to treat the sick.

“Those who are sick were suffering from diarrhea, bloody diarrhea and two people have already died, a girl and an adult and at least 57 others are also infected,” Julie Villadolid, of the Department of Health in the Muslims autonomous region, told the Mindanao Examiner.

Health workers suspect contaminated water was the culprit in the outbreak of diseases in the two villages. Villagers get their water from springs, Villadolid said.

“We have taken rectal swab from the sick and water samples from mountain springs to determine the cause of the outbreak of diseases and diarrhea,” she said.

Escherichia coli bacteria are a leading cause of bloody diarrhea. The symptoms are worse in children and older people, and especially in people who have another illness. Most E. coli infections come from drinking contaminated water and milk from animals such as goats and buffaloes.

Just this year, at least 18 people had died from viral gastroenteritis in Zamboanga City and Basilan island. Gastroenteritis is an acute infectious syndrome of the stomach lining and intestines and health experts said the symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal cramps.

Villadolid said they are still awaiting the results of laboratory tests to determine whether E. coli or other bacteria is the cause of the outbreak of diseases in the town. (Mark Navales)