Manila, March 28 -- The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday urged parents to have their children vaccinated against measles as it raised the alarm over a surge in cases.

This came as the department logged 1,185 cases of the disease from Jan. 1 to March 15 this year, up by 27 percent from the 930 cases recorded in the same period last year.

National Capital Region has the highest number of cases with 295, followed by Central Luzon with 150 and Calabarzon with 144.

The DOH added that 802 cases, or 68 percent, are children who have not been inoculated.

The department, meanwhile, said it is ramping up immunization efforts to prevent a further rise in cases.

"Patuloy pa rin ang pagsasagawa ng routine immunization sa lahat ng rehiyon sa b...