The Department of Health (DOH) stressed that there is no outbreak of Influenza-like Illness (ILI) despite a noticeable rise in flu-like symptoms in the country.

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa described the spike as a seasonal flu prevalent during the ‘ber’ months or the last quarter of the year.

This came after DepEd-National Capital Region announced suspension of face-to-face classes from elementary to senior high school due to an increase in flu-like symptoms among school staff and students.

“It’s not an outbreak, it’s the seasonal flu, itong pagsuspend ng klase, if you ask me, makakatulong ‘yan.  But I wish nag-coordinate lang sila”, Herbosa said in an interview with Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon on Tuesday, October 14.

“Kasi pag nagdeclare ka ng no classes because of flu-like symptoms, it will cause an alarm”, he added.

Herbosa urged the public not to panic over an increase in school absences, explaining that flu cases have not reached the critical level for an epidemic declaration.

On Monday, October 13, DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo reported a total of 121,716 cases of influenza-like sickness recorded from January to September this year.

This figure is only 8% fewer than the previous year’s 135,538 cases.

Preventive Measures

Meanwhile, local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila started conducting cleaning and disinfection efforts in public schools to prevent further increase in incidence of influenza-like infection among learners and personnel.

To provide time for disinfection, sanitation, and building inspection, DepEd-NCR suspended face-to-face classes in public schools from October 13 to 14 and ordered for Alternative Delivery Modalities to avoid learning disruptions.

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