MANILA, Philippines — Cases of flu and water-borne infectious diseases (WILD) have increased since November, the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Tuesday.
According to Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, the DOH is now providing more concentration on other health programs.
“Hindi lang po COVID ang binabantayan natin. Actually, we are now giving more focus on the other health programs as well, hindi lang po COVID,” she said in a media forum.
(We are not just monitoring COVID-19. Actually, we are now giving more focus on the other health programs as well, not just COVID.)
“Ito pong buwan ng Disyembre — it started even last November, tumataas po ang mga kaso ng mga ibang sakit katulad nitong influenza, ‘yung tinatawag natin na flu, meron din pong mga ibang sakit katulad ng WILD diseases because of the past rainy season,” she added.
(This month of December — it started even last November — cases of other diseases like influenza or what we call flu and WILD diseases increased because of the past rainy season.)
Based on trends, flu cases spike during the ‘ber’ months due to change in weather, Vergeire explained.
“Nakikita ho natin na nagkakaroon ng trangkaso ang mga tao and based on trends, nakikita natin ‘yan na kapag dumadating na po ‘yung ‘ber’ months. Mas mataas po ang ating mga kaso for this mga trangkaso or flu-like symptoms, and this, primarily, is because of the change in weather,” she pointed out.
(We see that people get flu and based on trends, it comes during ‘ber’ months. Our cases of flu or flu-like symptoms increase, and this, primarily, is because of the change in weather.)
Vergeire advised the public to isolate once symptoms of flu or COVID-19 are being experienced.
Flu and COVID-19 have similar symptoms such as fever, cough, and colds. Both can be contracted from close contact, droplets or air.
After isolation, the patient can call their physicians or consult through a telemedicine hotline to confirm if they have flu or COVID-19, Vergeire said.