Philippine measles epidemic hits 14,000 cases

Painful but necessary: A child reacting during a Philippine Red Cross Measles Outbreak Vaccination Response in Baseco compound, a slum area in Manila . — AFP

MANILA: The number of cases of measles in the Philippines has exceeded more than 14,000 and the count is still rising even as the government steps up its campaign against a vaccine scare that was triggered by deaths allegedly caused by Dengvaxia, a vaccine against dengue.

The government recorded 14,938 cases and 238 deaths from measles as of Feb 28, Health Department Undersecretary Eric Domingo said in a mobile phone text message, adding that “the number of cases is still rising”.