KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- Health officials in Soccsksargen are strengthening their efforts to prevent possible outbreak of measles-rubella, including polio, in the region.

DOH-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) Soccsksargen announced in a press conference Friday, April 14 that it will start its supplemental immunization against measles-rubella and polio across the region on May 2 to 31.

Dr. Edvir Jane Montañer, immunization program manager of DOH-CHD Soccsksargen said threats of impending outbreaks, such as those of the measles-rubella, should be prevented and given serious and urgent attention.

"To date, there is no specific treatment for both measles and polio, and the only reliable protection is through vaccination," Montañer added.

DOH will be utilizing the bayanihan or whole of society approach through house to house or suyod strategy, fixed posts at all health facilities or temporary posts including malls, checkpoints, terminals or other places where people congregate.

According to the official, all children below 5 years old from different provinces in the region are set to receive the free and safe vaccination.

"This year, we are targeting 413,479 children 9 to 59 months old to receive measles-rubella (MR) vaccine and 484,048 children from 0 to 59 months to receive bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV)," the official added.

Aristotle Teofilo, medical technologist of the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) reported 53 suspected measles-rubella cases in 2022. Of this number, 3 were laboratory-confirmed rubella; 10 were clinically compatible measles; and 40 were discarded.

From January to April 2023, RESU already recorded 20 suspected measles-rubella cases in the region.

Measles or tigdas is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. It can cause high-grade fever, rashes, cough, eye infection and can lead to complications such as pneumonia, ear infection, blindness, severe diarrhea, and swelling of the brain. (PIA 12)