CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – At least four deaths have been recorded by the Provincial Health Office (PHO) due to the measles outbreak in the province.
This, according to provincial health officer Dr. Marcelo Jaochico on Monday who also said there are now 190 cases of measles in Pampanga as of February 9.
Jaochico said Gov. Lilia G. Pineda has instructed them during a meeting to manage the victims to avoid deaths.
“Nag meeting kami on how we can manage the victims so they won’t die,” he said.
Jaochico said another problem is the isolation ward of the Jose B. Lingad (JBL) Regional Hospital which is overwhelmed with patients.
He said the patients needed to be isolated “so we have identified a building in an evacuation site to serve as an isolation ward.” He said JBL has pediatrician medical specialists and they will attend to them there.
“And later, the hospitals will be fumigated,” he added.
Jaochico said the problem is lack of immunization which makes them susceptible.
The PHO record shows that 24 cases of measles each have been noted in this capital city and Angeles, Mabalacat has 17, Porac 22, Floridablanca 16, and Arayat 17.
Jaochico lamented that all of the victims were not immunized.
The health officer said the Department of Health has instructed them to give vitamin A to children improve their resistance.
In the same period last year, only 19 cases were recorded as compared to 190 now, he said.
Jaochico said what is alarming is that the age group of 11 to 25 years old and 26 years old and above also are afflicted.
