No outbreak of ‘walking’ pneumonia in PH, says Herbosa

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa faces Commission on Appointments’ Committee meeting on his appointment as health chief on Tuesday, September 26, 2023. (File photo from Joseph B. Vidal/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — There is no outbreak of ‘walking’ pneumonia in the Philippines, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said on Tuesday.

Herbosa made the statement during the Commission on Appointments’ deliberation on his appointment.

“Sa Philippines po, wala pang outbreak, according to our Epidemiology Bureau. Although marami ang cases because ito po talaga ‘yung season ng respiratory illness,” said Herbosa.

(In the Philippines, there is no outbreak yet, according to our Epidemiology Bureau. Although there are many cases because this is really the season of respiratory illness.)

‘Walking pneumonia’ is a mild bacterial infection that resembles a cold.

Experts say it usually does not require bed rest or a hospital stay.

At the hearing, Herbosa was asked what DOH is doing to mitigate cases and avoid an outbreak of this type of pneumonia in the country.

“My advice is the same. Yung natutunan natin noong Covid-19 [pandemic] – ‘yung social distancing at saka pagsuot ng face mask, cough etiquette, para hindi magkahawaan [ay dapat panatilihin],” he said.

(My advice is the same. What we learned during the Covid-19 pandemic – the social distancing and then, wearing a face mask, cough etiquette, so as not to get infected should be maintained.)

“Kung may sakit ang bata, huwag nang papapasukin para hindi makahawa ng ibang bata sa eskwelahan,” he added.

(If a child is sick, let him stay at home so as not to infect other children in school.)

Herbosa said it is true the cases of walking pneumonia are rising, not only in China, but also in Europe.

“Other countries in Europe have recorded [an] increase in respiratory illness in children,” he said.

“Attributed po ito sa hindi bagong virus, previous microbes, mycoplasma pneumoniae, yung Respiratory Syncytial Virus at saka yung influenza,” he explained.

(It is attributed to virus that is not new, previous microbes, mycoplasma pneumoniae, the Respiratory Syncytial Virus and influenza.)