DOH notes drop in cases of influenza-like illnesses nationwide

Facade of the DOH main office in Manila. (INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday noted a decreasing number of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) nationwide.

Based on data from the DOH, a total of 4,279 ILI cases were recorded as of Jan. 16, since the start of 2024.

“ILI cases show a downtrend: there has been a 15 percent decrease in the recent three to four weeks with 6,266 cases recorded, compared to 7,356 cases two weeks before that,” said the DOH.

However, the DOH noted that numbers could still change with incoming reports.

According to the DOH, ILI refers to a syndrome that combines fever and respiratory signs or symptoms.

The most commonly detected causes of ILI in the Philippines are influenza A and B; SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19; and the human rhinovirus which causes the common cold.

From Jan. 1 to Dec. 2, 2023, a total of 193,148 influenza-like illnesses were reported nationwide.

SARS-CoV-2 led the list as the most common cause of ILI in the country since 2020, or when COVID-19 hit the country’s shores.