(UPDATE) THE Department of Health (DOH) reported Wednesday a surge in measles-rubella (MR) cases this year, and urged the public to get vaccinated.
In its latest report, the DOH said from Jan. 4 to March 21, 2026, a total of 1,627 MR cases were recorded, compared to 1,121 cases in the same period last year — a 45 percent increase.
The DOH noted that five regions accounted for the highest number of cases: BARMM (344), Region 12 (322), Region 11 (163), the National Capital Region (158), and Region 3 (154).
More than half of the recorded cases — 1,111 or 68 percent — were among unvaccinated individuals.
The DOH also noted that national MR vaccination coverage stands at around 66 percent of the eligible population, with approximately 821,000 individuals still unvaccinated.
The agency expressed concern over the death of a 4-month-old unvaccinated girl in Quezon City who died from measles on March 25 — the city’s first measles-related death this year.
“Even as the vaccination rate for QC is at a commendable 96 percent, infants younger than the recommended age for first dose vaccination (typically 9 months for routine; 6 months for supplementary immunization activity) remain susceptible. Quezon City’s initiative, particularly the outbreak response immunization (ORI) and active case finding (ACF), will go a long way in providing ring-fence protection for ineligible children. Neighbors should be vaccinated to protect those who cannot be,” said DOH spokesman Albert Domingo.
The DOH urged the public to avail themselves of MR vaccines, saying that phase 2 of its MR supplemental immunization activity will be underway, following a previous rollout in Mindanao earlier this year.
