The Department of Health confirmed three more cases of polio, which brings the total number of patients to seven since September.
In a statement, the DOH identified the patients as a 2-year-old girl from Maguindanao, a 1-year-old boy from Cotabato City, and a 4-year-old girl from North Cotabato.
Patients’ samples were sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and the National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Japan. Both tests confirmed positive for polio.
Two of the kids were not vaccinated, while the other one received incomplete doses. The DOH said that the 3 cases were admitted at the Cotabato Regional Medical Center.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has encouraged parents to immunize their children.
A massive vaccination program will take place in Mindanao and Manila from November 24 to December 7.
“It is unacceptable that more children are falling victim to this vaccine-preventable disease,” Duque said.
Polio reemerged in the country after the Philippines was declared polio-free for 19 years.
