ZAMBOANGA CITY --The City Health Office has extended for 12 days the conduct of the Outbreak Response Immunization (ORI) for measles in this city from Monday, April 2 until April 13.
Dr. Dulce Amor Dagalea-Miravite, City Health Officer-in-Charge, told the Philippine News Agency they extended the immunization program since they failed to reach its goal to immunize 95 percent of the target population.
Miravite said they only managed to immunize 70,000 children, which is 60 percent of the 121,928 kids.
The ORI was launched from February 19 to March 23 following the declaration of measles outbreak in this city.
To be immunized with Mumps, Measles and Rubella (MMR) are children aged six to 59 months. It is a pro-active measures to address the measles outbreak.
Miravite said her office has so far recorded 287 suspected cases of measles since January, this year.
Measles is a highly communicable viral illness transmitted to direct contact with nasal or throat secretion of infected person or by articles freshly soiled with nose and throat secretion.
The only way to prevent the disease is through vaccination and to have a strong herd immunity from the community. (PNA)
