The Department of Health (DOH) has announced a significant and concerning rise in measles infections across the Philippines for the year 2025. The data reveals a sharp increase compared to the previous year, prompting health authorities to launch an urgent, large-scale vaccination campaign.
A Sharp Rise in Measles Infections
In a statement released on Saturday, January 10, 2026, the DOH disclosed that from January 1 to December 27, 2025, the country recorded a total of 5,123 confirmed measles cases. This figure represents a substantial 32 percent jump from the 3,880 cases documented during the same monitoring period in 2024.
The outbreak has not been evenly distributed nationwide. Health officials identified that a high concentration of cases originated in several regions within Mindanao. The areas most affected include:
- Zamboanga Peninsula
- Northern Mindanao
- Soccsksargen
- Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)
Perhaps most alarmingly, the demographic data shows that the virus is disproportionately impacting the very young. Nearly half of all recorded patients were children aged six months to under five years old, a group particularly vulnerable to severe complications from measles.
DOH Mobilizes with "Ligtas Tigdas" Vaccination Campaign
In direct response to the escalating outbreak, the Department of Health is preparing to roll out a targeted measles immunization drive. Named the "Ligtas Tigdas Campaign," its first phase is scheduled to commence on January 19, 2026.
The agency has designated Mindanao, the epicenter of the recent case surge, as the primary focus for the initial stage of this mass vaccination effort. The campaign aims to immunize a massive 2.8 million children across the island who are within the critical age bracket of 6 months to 5 years.
Urgent Call to Action for Parents
The DOH is urging immediate public cooperation to curb the spread of the highly contagious disease. Health authorities are strongly encouraging all parents and guardians to participate in the upcoming immunization drive.
"Parents are invited to contact the nearest health center to have their children vaccinated," the DOH emphasized in its announcement. Proactive vaccination is considered the most effective defense against measles, protecting not only individual children but also helping to establish community-wide immunity and prevent future outbreaks.
With the launch date set, local health units in Mindanao are now in the final stages of preparation to ensure the campaign reaches its goal of safeguarding millions of young Filipinos against this preventable disease.
