AKIPRESS.COM - Authorities in the Philippines have declared an outbreak of the highly contagious measles virus in the capital, Manila, BBC reports.

Data showed 196 people had contracted measles between 1-19 January, compared to only 20 cases in the same period last year.

Some 50 people - mostly children - are believed to have died from the disease, officials told local media.

Authorities earlier said 2.4 million unvaccinated children were at risk.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque told local media that bronchopneumonia from measles complications can be deadly, and encouraged parents to bring their children for immunisation.