The Ministry of Health in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOH-BARMM) fielded Monday thousands of medical field workers and barangay health frontliners to immunize about 1.3 million children.

This came after an outbreak of measles-rubella cases was declared by the MOH in the region, with the health ministry recording almost 600 cases of measles, with three fatalities from January 1 to March 20.

BARMM’s rural health units in 116 towns kicked off the vaccination drive to vaccinate at least 90 percent of the high-risk population, especially children from 6 months to 9 years of age, to control measles.

It will last until April 20, targeting to inoculate 1.3 million children six months old to below 10-years-old.

“As of March 26, the MOH-BARMM recorded 597 measles cases. The epidemiologic profile shows that those under five years of age and who are unvaccinated are the most affected,” Zul Qarneyn Abas, MOH-BARMM deputy minister, told Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa in a recent meeting.

Maguindanao del Norte has the highest measles cases with 172, followed by Lanao del Sur with 162, Sulu province with 135, Marawi City with 86, Maguindanao del Sur with 19, Special Geographic Areas of BARMM with two, Basilan with 14, Cotabato City with four, and Tawi-Tawi with three.

Measles is highly contagious and spreads from infected persons through the air, mainly through coughing or sneezing.

It affects all age groups, but is more common in children. Its symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, and a body rash. (PNA)