Questions and answers on the measles outbreak in the Philippines

Questions and answers on the measles outbreak in the Philippines

Measles continues to spread in the Philippines

Health officials in the Philippines are grappling with measles outbreaks in five regions and an uptick in cases in other parts of the country. Since the start of 2019, there have been more than 4,300 cases of measles, including 70 deaths. Measles cases in the country climbed dramatically last year — there were more than 18,000 cases in 2018, compared to roughly 2,400 the year before. Measles vaccination rates dropped below 70 percent in 2017, leaving many kids susceptible to infection. The WHO estimates that 2.6 million children under age 5 in the Philippines aren't protected against measles.