HEALTH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa clarified on Tuesday that there is no outbreak of influenza-like illnesses in the country, explaining that the rise in cases is part of the usual flu season during the colder months.
“During the ‘-ber’ months, this is our flu season. It’s our ILIs — talagang dumarami ‘yan,” Herbosa said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview.
“There’s no influenza-like illness outbreak; it’s just seasonal flu, but we still have to be careful.”
He said the Department of Health (DOH) has not reached the threshold to declare an outbreak and urged the public not to panic over increasing absences in schools due to flu-like symptoms.
From January to September, the DOH recorded 121,716 ILI cases, an 8 percent decrease compared to the same period last year.
Herbosa added that while class suspensions in NCR may help reduce transmission, these decisions should be coordinated with the DOH to prevent confusion or alarm.
He also reminded the public to practice basic preventive measures — regular handwashing, wearing masks when symptomatic, staying home when sick, and ensuring proper ventilation — as flu cases typically rise during the rainy season.
