The number of cases of measles has been increasing in the Philippines over the past several years, but since late 2018, there has been a dramatic increase in cases nationally. There has been 261 deaths between 1 January and 2 March 2019 in comparison to 202 deaths in 2018. Between 2017 and 2018, there was a 547 per cent increase of measles cases reported nationwide. On 6 February 2019, Department of Health (DOH) declared the first measles outbreak. As of 2 March, eight regions have declared outbreaks and the province of Cavite has declared a state of calamity.
