ILOILO City – A sharp rise in measles-rubella cases in Western Visayas has prompted health authorities to intensify vaccination efforts, with the Department of Health (DOH) linking much of the increase to low immunization coverage and persistent vaccine hesitancy among parents.
Data from the DOH Region 6 showed that suspected measles-rubella cases climbed by 41 percent in 2025, reaching 444 cases from 314 recorded in 2024, with Iloilo Province accounting for the largest share of infections. No deaths were reported.
The increase comes as health officials prepare for a regionwide Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR SIA) scheduled from Aug. 10 to 28, 2026, targeting children aged six to 59 months.
Provincial data showed Iloilo Province posting the highest number of cases at 291, more than double the 129 cases recorded in 2024.
Iloilo City registered 72 cases, while Antique had 40, Capiz 20, Aklan 15, and Guimaras six.
Dr. Jose Martin Atienza, Medical Officer IV and National Immunization Program Coordinator of DOH-6, said the figures highlight the urgent need to improve vaccination coverage, particularly in provinces with large numbers of under-vaccinated children.
“Ang Iloilo province gid may pinakataas base sa number. Pero sa percentage, that would be the province of Guimaras, kaso gamay lang man population sang Guimaras. Also, we have noted increase in cases in the province of Capiz and Iloilo City. However, sa number of children nga under-vaccinated, it is the province of Iloilo kay dako ila population, followed by the province of Capiz, and the province of Aklan,” said Dr. Atienza.
He added: “Based sa aton classification of measles cases, 60% are unvaccinated, which shows nga kalabanan nga naka-contract or nahawaan sang measles kag rubella, sila ini ang mga tawo nga wala makaagi bakunahan sang Measles and Rubella (MR) vaccines,” Dr. Atienza stressed.
This clearly indicates that MR vaccines play an essential role in protecting communities from outbreaks, he asserted.
“I remind the public nga may ara gyapon kita cases sang vaccine hesitancy. May mga parents waay gihapon nila ginapa-immunize ang ila bata. May mga kaso man nga indi aware ang mga parents naton, mga caregivers, nga dapat gali may mabaton nga bakuna ang ila mga kabataan. This is why gina-remind namon sa DOH ang mga parents nga i-upod nila ang ila mga bata, ila infants nga magpabakuna. Ang aton mga bakuna subok na. Almost five decades na ang aton National Immunization Program,” he said.
Atienza also stressed that “ang tanan namon nga bakuna under the DOH nag daan gid sa masusing test and they are approved by the World Health Organization and Food and Drug Administration. Pasado ining mga bakuna sa standard sang Department of Health.”
The DOH announced that the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity will be conducted throughout Western Visayas from Aug. 10 to 28, 2026, as health officials seek to reverse declining vaccination rates and prevent further outbreaks.
Health authorities emphasized that achieving the target 95-percent immunization coverage remains critical to protecting children and communities against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases./PN
