The Department of Health (DOH) is monitoring a surge in measles cases, particularly in areas hit by Typhoons Tino and Uwan.
Data released Saturday showed a 37-percent increase in measles-rubella cases nationwide, with 4,718 cases recorded since January, compared to 3,434 during the same period last year.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa warned that unvaccinated children in crowded evacuation centers are at high risk. “It will spread quickly through crowded evacuation centers,” he said in a video message.
DOH teams are visiting evacuation sites to administer free measles-rubella vaccines. Two million doses of vaccines and medical supplies have also been delivered to typhoon-affected provinces.
“We have a lot of supply of it, and we have already given it to our local government units. So we should be able to see this in our health centers so that we can give it to those who need it but don’t have a vaccine yet,” Herbosa added.
The DOH plans a nationwide measles-rubella supplementary immunization drive in 2026 to protect vulnerable children.