MANILA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Measles cases in the Philippines continued to surge to 21,396 since the first case was recorded in January this year, and 315 have so far died from the viral disease, official data showed on Thursday.
The cases were recorded from Jan. 1 to March 14, according to the Philippine Department of Health (DOH) Epidemiology Bureau.
The DOH said the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon (Calabarzon) recorded the highest number of measles cases and death, with 4,401 and 87, respectively.
This was followed by the National Capital Region (NCR) with 4,266 cases and 85 deaths.
The DOH noted that the most affected age group was between one and four years old with 6,180 cases, or 29 percent, and 142 deaths or 45 percent, followed by patients less than nine months old with 5,432 cases, or 25 percent, with 122 deaths or 39 percent.
The country's health department also noted that 12,756 people, or 60 percent, of those who contracted the airborne disease, as well as 245 people, or 78 percent, of those who have died, had not been vaccinated.
On Feb. 6, the DOH declared a "measles outbreak" in Metro Manila. On Feb. 7, the DOH said that the measles outbreak had spread to more areas in the Philippine main Luzon island, Western Visayas and Central Visayas in the central Philippines.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that is transmitted via droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of infected persons. Initial symptoms usually appear 10 to 12 days after infection. Common complications include pneumonia and diarrhea.
Death may occur in up to 5 to 10 percent of infected young children in developing countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
