Measles outbreak hit flooded Davao towns

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Xinhua) -- At least three children have died in a measles outbreak that hit two towns in southern Philippines, local authorities today said.

The measles epidemic that hit Talaingod and Kapalong towns in Mindanao's Davao del Norte province came as the region is still reeling from rain-induced flooding and landslides that have already killed at least 15 people.

Over thirty people are also hospitalized due to the viral disease, and eight of them were confirmed to have contracted the disease, according to Basilio Libayao, mayor of the upland Talaingod town.

"What alarmed us was that even our town physician was not spared from the disease although he was lucky to have recovered from it," Libayao said.

The continuous rains and landslides hampered medical teams from reaching far-flung communities of this landlocked town, where most of the 20,000 inhabitants belonging to the Ata-Manobo tribe rely on crude farming and occasional hunting for subsistence, according to municipal health officer James Ian dela Cruz.

"We are expecting this number to increase as our medical teams reach other far-flung affected areas," Doctor Dela Cruz told Xinhua.

Libayao said he has declared the town under state of calamity so funds from the local and provincial government could be used to buy more vaccines and other medical supplies for the victims.

A similar outbreak of the disease was also reported in nearby Kapalong town, but according to Kapalong Mayor Edgardo Timbol, only about five patients are still undergoing treatment at the local hospital. (report from Philstar.com)