2023–2024 Bangsamoro measles outbreak explained

2023–2024 Bangsamoro measles outbreak
Map1:Map of Bangsamoro (local government units).svg
Disease:Measles
First Outbreak:October 9, 2023, in
Date:2023 – present
Deaths:14
Confirmed Cases:2,064
Vaccinations:1,034,841

The 2023–2024 Bangsamoro measles outbreak is an outbreak of measles affecting the autonomous region of Bangsamoro in the Philippines since 2023. An outbreak was first declared in Lanao del Sur on October 9, 2023, with a region-wide outbreak later declared on March 21, 2024.

Outbreak

Outbreak in Lanao del Sur

Since April 29, 2023, there are documented cases of people experiencing measles symptoms Lanao del Sur. This was observed in the population of Marawi on June 6, 2023, primarily affecting people below ten years old. An increase of trend of measles cases in different provinces of Bangsamoro was observed from August 6 to September 3, 2023, which led to the declaration of a measles outbreak on October 9, 2023, in Lanao del Sur and Marawi on October 9, 2023.[1]

Regional outbreak

The measles outbreak was declared in the Bangsamoro region by the local Ministry of Health (MOH) on March 21, 2024. The declaration came after 592 cases and 3 deaths were record in the Bangsamoro since January 1 of that year. Majority of the cases were in Lanao del Sur with 220 people infected.[2] [3] [4]

The national Department of Health expressed confidence that no outbreak will happen in other regions of the Philippines. The national health department says that it was only the Bangsamoro region which has not attained herd immunity against measles and rubella with 50 percent coverage – the reason which it states that the outbreak has occurred in the region.[5] [6]

By April 17, 2024, 787 cases has been recorded in the Bangsamoro region or 48 percent of the 1,627 cases recorded nationwide for 2024 alone.[7] On the same date, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council recorded 2,064 cases and 14 deaths since 2023 in the Bangsamoro region.[1]

By April 23, 2024, 905 cases and 4 deaths been recorded in the Bangsamoro for the year 2024 alone.[8]

Response

The Bangsamoro health ministry in cooperation of the national Department of Health launched a free measles vaccination drive for people in the region which began on April 1, 2024.[9] By April 17, 2024, 981,805 individuals aged six to ten years old has been vaccinated under the program.[9]

The Bangsamoro government also cooperated with the Regional Darul Ifta' of Bangsamoro which insisted through a fatwa that measles vaccines are halal to encourage people to get vaccinated in the Muslim-majority region.[10]

Cases

Confirmed cases as per the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (April 17, 2024)! Province! Cases! Deaths
1,265 11
427 3
302 0
25 0
23 0
14 0
8 0
Total (regionwide)2,06414

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Progress Report No. 5 for the Measles Outbreak in BARMM . National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council . April 21, 2024 . April 17, 2024.
  2. News: Untalan . Sherylin . BARMM to expand measles vaccinations to combat outbreak . April 21, 2024 . GMA News . March 23, 2024 . en.
  3. News: Unson . John . Measles outbreak declared in BARMM . March 24, 2024 . The Philippine Star . March 24, 2024.
  4. News: Fernandez . Edwin O. . Measles outbreak declared in BARMM . March 24, 2024 . Philippine Daily Inquirer . March 23, 2024 . en.
  5. News: DOH: PH-wide measles outbreak unlikely . April 21, 2024 . SunStar . SunStar Publishing Inc. . April 13, 2024 . en.
  6. News: DOH says no need to declare measles outbreak . April 21, 2024 . Manila Standard . April 10, 2024.
  7. News: Baron . Gabriela . DOH logs 1,627 cases of measles-rubella . April 21, 2024 . Daily Tribune . April 17, 2024 . en.
  8. News: Fernandez . Edwin . BARMM nears 1.3M children target for anti-measles vaccination . April 23, 2024 . Philippine News Agency. April 23, 2024 . en.
  9. News: Barmm measles vax drive reaches nearly 1M . April 21, 2024 . SunStar . SunStar Publishing Inc. . April 19, 2024 . en.
  10. News: BARMM health ministry declares measles outbreak across region . April 21, 2024 . Rappler . March 22, 2024.