Philippines launches plan to eradicate measles

The Philippines government has announced a large-scale measles immunisation programme aimed at eliminating the disease by 2008.

In a statement the Philippines' department of health launched 'Knock Out Tigdas 2007', a mass measles immunisation to take place from October 15th to November 15th.

The announcement comes as the country's government warned of the increased threat of a large scale measles epidemic, stating there are now an estimated two and a half million children in Philippines at risk from measles.

"Without decisive action, this may result in a nationwide outbreak of a magnitude the country has never seen," a department of health statement said.

The Philippines adopted a ten-year plan to eliminate measles in 1998, targeting an estimated 27 million children aged between nine months and 14-years old.

Figures released by the World Health Organisation in 2003 indicated the Philippines' measles immunisation program had reached over 75 per cent of the country's one-year-olds.

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