The Department of Health stated that the presence of a "super flu" variant in the Philippines is not alarming, but advised Filipinos traveling to North America and the United Kingdom to get the northern hemisphere vaccine amid rising cases in the US and Europe.
On Monday, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa stated during a Palace briefing that the public should not be alarmed by the presence of subclade K, a variant of the influenza A (H3N2) virus, in the Philippines. The Department of Health reported 41 cases from August 6 to October 24 of last year, with all patients having recovered.
"The warning I will give is for Filipinos that will travel to the temperate countries, that will go to North America, to the UK. If you’re going there, be knowledgeable that there is a spread of super flu in (those areas)," Herbosa said. He advised getting the northern hemisphere vaccine for those traveling to cold places, not the southern hemisphere shot.
Although flu is a self-limiting illness, the DOH recommended vaccinations especially for the elderly and those with medical conditions. "As we very well know, flu is a self-limiting illness, unless you have a medical condition, you’re elderly, so we still recommend the use of the flu vaccine," he added. Precautionary measures include staying home when sick and wearing face masks to prevent spread.
The super flu has been sweeping parts of the globe in recent months, leading to increasing cases in the US and Europe.
