‘Measles rooms’ in WV hospitals pushed

THE Department of Health (DOH)-6 encouraged hospitals in Western Visayas to dedicate isolation rooms for measles patients.

A measles outbreak was declared in Western Visayas with 245 confirmed cases out of 1,052 suspected measles infections.

The measles isolation rooms are meant to prevent the spread of the highly contagious disease which can be transmitted through contact with respiratory secretions or aerosols.

Dr. Renilyn Reyes, Medical Office IV, urged government hospitals to also allot measles room.

“We encourage government hospitals to convert at least one room into measles isolation room to prevent the spread the disease in the health facility,” Reyes said in a press briefing on Friday.

Marlyn M. Convocar, DOH-6 director, said that measles isolation rooms were imposed in the hospitals under DOH.

These DOH hospitals are the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Regional Hospital in Bacolod City, Don Jose Monfort Medical Center Extension Hospital at Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, and Western Visayas Sanitarium at Santa Barbara, Iloilo, and Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

Convocar said they also prioritize the implementation of measles fast lanes.

“The ‘measles fast lane’ works in the same manner as the ‘dengue fast lane.’ Patients with high grade fever and maculopapular rash will immediately be given medical attention,” Convocar said.

Aside from isolation rooms, DOH-6 also plans to dedicate a health worker who will handle measles patients.

Convocar said that the department would also assure that the health workers are vaccinated to protect them from the virus.

The dedication of isolation rooms for measles cases and establishment of “measles fast lane,” immunization of workers, along with the strict implementation of infection control protocol, are among the actions of the health department in interrupting the transmission of disease in the hospitals.

The department also enhanced its “catch up” immunization for the defaulters through routine immunization, school-based immunization, and supplemental immunization activities.