A total of 80 people in Singapore have been infected with measles as of April 5.
23 of them had travelled to the Philippines, after an announcement was made by the Philippine authorities in January on measles outbreaks in a number of cities in Metro Manila and in Pampanga.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) has issued an advisory urging persons travelling to the Philippines, including Filipinos living in Singapore who return to the Philippines for a home visit, to be vaccinated, if they have not been vaccinated against measles, or not had measles before.
The MOH also advises parents to get their children vaccinated after it found out that half of the 49 local cases reported involved young children who missed their vaccination. The advisory includes other persons in the family who have not been vaccinated as well, especially if there is a baby being cared for at home.
A highly contagious disease, one usually suffers common symptoms like coughing, fever, runny nose, and skin rash one or two weeks after being infected with measles. The rash begins at the face and then spreads downward to cover the whole body.
Only through vaccination or natural disease can one develop immunity from measles. Also, a person who's recovered from measles will have life-long protection against the air-borne disease.
The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination is available at polyclinics, private General Practitioner (GP) clinics, and private paediatric clinics across the island.
Call 6325-9220 or email MOH at moh_info@moh.gov.sg for more information.
Photo: Noel Celis/AFP
A total of 80 people in Singapore have been infected with measles as of April 5.
23 of them had travelled to the Philippines, after an announcement was made by the Philippine authorities in January on measles outbreaks in a number of cities in Metro Manila and in Pampanga.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) has issued an advisory urging persons travelling to the Philippines, including Filipinos living in Singapore who return to the Philippines for a home visit, to be vaccinated, if they have not been vaccinated against measles, or not had measles before.
The MOH also advises parents to get their children vaccinated after it found out that half of the 49 local cases reported involved young children who missed their vaccination. The advisory includes other persons in the family who have not been vaccinated as well, especially if there is a baby being cared for at home.
A highly contagious disease, one usually suffers common symptoms like coughing, fever, runny nose, and skin rash one or two weeks after being infected with measles. The rash begins at the face and then spreads downward to cover the whole body.
Only through vaccination or natural disease can one develop immunity from measles. Also, a person who's recovered from measles will have life-long protection against the air-borne disease.
The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination is available at polyclinics, private General Practitioner (GP) clinics, and private paediatric clinics across the island.
Call 6325-9220 or email MOH at moh_info@moh.gov.sg for more information.
Photo: Noel Celis/AFP