Philippines: ‘Doc Eric Tayag’ talks measles, or ‘tigdas’ on Twitter

The Assistant Secretary of Health in the Philippines, Dr. Eric Tayag, went to Twitter today to talk about the viral disease and vaccine preventable disease, measles.

He tweeted about the disease and symptoms saying, “Measles is a viral illness that commonly spreads among young children and even adults It is highly contagious.”

In Tagalog he noted, “Ang tigdas ay lubhang nakakahawa Karaniwang mga batang edad 10 taon pababa ang mga tinatamaan Nakakamatay ang tigdas”– Loosely translated–“Usually children under 10 years of age struck the fatal measles.”

Tayag describes the symptoms of measles in his tweets–“You know it’s measles if you wake up with red eyes, runny nose, cough along with fever that can reach up to 40C, Two days later after initial symptoms of measles, reddish, raised rashes appear behind the ears that spread to cover head then whole body”.

And of course the prevention for this viral disease, vaccination.

Tayag notes that the Department of Health urges mothers to bring their children to health centers for free measles vaccination for Children 6 months to 18 months old.

Measles vaccination is FREE in health centers NATIONWIDE.

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