MANILA, Philippines - A two-year-old infant from Quiapo, Manila became the latest fatality to an outbreak of measles in the country, bringing the total number of measles deaths this year to 5.

The Department of Health  also added Tanawan City, Batangas and Narra, Palawan in its list of areas with measles outbreak, bringing last week's total of 15 areas to 17 areas this week.

The DOH earlier detected  954 measles cases nationwide from January 1 to February 20, which is triple the number recorded during the same period last year.

Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral earlier said the DOH will coordinate with the Department of Education on a “fever watch.” Pupils and students who have fever or who may be showing symptoms of measles will immediately be sent home so others would not get infected.

Symptoms that a person may be infected include fever, general weakness and sometimes red eyes. These symptoms are usually observed before the characteristic skin rash which confirms the onset of measles.