ILOILO – A 10-month-old baby girl has been confirmed as the first case of German measles, also known as rubella, in this province this year.
She was admitted to the Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital in Cabatuan town on Jan. 9. Her specimen was sent to the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Mandurriao district, where it tested positive for German measles on Jan. 12.
Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, head of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO), said the baby was hospitalized due to symptoms of fever and rashes.
A serum sample was taken and sent to WVMC for laboratory testing to confirm the diagnosis.
German measles is caused by the rubella virus. Infection in pregnant women can lead to congenital defects in their unborn children.
The disease’s symptoms include fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, rashes, and red eyes. It spreads through coughing or droplets from an infected person and can be transmitted to others through contact.
Quiñon said there is no specific treatment for measles/rubella, and the illness typically resolves within a few days.
The best method of prevention is vaccination. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is available at Rural Health Units (RHU). The vaccine is administered in two doses, the first at nine months and the second at one year of age.
Quiñon appealed to the public, especially residents in Cabatuan, to be vigilant for similar symptoms in children and to visit the RHU for disease management.
She stressed the importance of raising awareness to prevent the spread of the disease, particularly to protect pregnant women. In 2023, the province recorded 50 cases of measles/rubella, a significant increase from the 26 cases reported in 2022./PN
