BACOLOD CITY — Measles cases in Negros Occidental increased by a whopping 3,333 percent in January this year.

Provincial Health Officer Ernell Tumimbang said measles cases in Negros Occidental went up to 103 from Jan. 1 to 26 compared to the three cases recorded during the same period last year.

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He said the surge in cases began in August last year from relatively low numbers in the first half of 2018.

There were 370 measles cases in Negros Occidental in 2018 or a 1,380 percent increase from the 25 cases in 2017, he said.

Tumimbang said the surge in cases was due to the decline in the number of children who received measles vaccine following the Dengvaxia controversy in which the anti-dengue vaccine was blamed on the death of some children who received it during a government immunization drive./lzb

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