Nearly 80% of the 1.4 million children in Central Visayas have been vaccinated against measles, according to the Department of Health (DOH). With a house-to-house campaign, the Department expects to achieve 100% immunization, reducing the measles rate to zero. Across the country, 1.12 million children from ages nine months to eight years have been vaccinated.

The campaign started on April 4 and will go on until the end of May. Health authorities expect to vaccinate 100% of the children in the Philippines. Despite the efforts of the government, only 63 percent of the children targeted for immunization had been vaccinated by the previous date for the end of the campaign. According to officials, the results are still decent, given that there are many holidays in April, mainly the Holy Week.

The Department of Health believes that the remaining 6.2 million children will be immunized by the end of the month. At least 95% of the targeted children will be immunized.

Also known as rubella, measles is a highly communicable infection of the respiratory system and is caused by a virus. A runny nose, blotchy rashes persisting longer than three days, fever and a cough are symptoms of the disease, which is spread through droplets from one person to another by coughing, sneezing and close contact. Children are at an especially high risk to develop the illness.

According to health authorities, the incidence of measles in the region decreased in the first quarter of 2011, compared to the same period of time in 2010.