Eased COVID rules, changing weather caused spike in flu-like illnesses: expert

Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Passengers traveling via the LRT-2 Araneta Center-Cubao station in Quezon City wear face masks in light of the upheld mask mandate within train lines on April 25, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/11/29/20230425-lrt2-mask-mandate-md-4.jpg"/><figcaption>Passengers traveling via the LRT-2 Araneta Center-Cubao station in Quezon City wear face masks in light of the upheld mask mandate within train lines on April 25, 2023. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — The relaxed COVID-19 restrictions and the changing weather could be to blame for the rise in flu-like illnesses in the Philippines, an expert said on Wednesday. </p><p>The Department of Health (DOH) said the surge of influenza-like illnesses in the country had already slowed, but cases already reached more than 180,000 as of this month.</p><p>There has also been a reported increase in respiratory illness in China.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/11/28/23/doh-on-alert-for-new-pathogens-as-flu-like-cases-spike">DOH on alert for new pathogens as flu-like cases spike</a></li></ul><p>People should mask up, Dr. Benito Atienza, vice president of the Philippine Federation of Professional Associations. </p><p>&quot;Isa pang reason diyan ay yung... kalagayan ng ating sitwasyon na umuulan. Mainit tapos biglang uulan... at saka papalit-palit na klima. Ang tao ay stressed, magpaPasko, maraming iniintindi, kulang sa tulog, sa pahinga,&quot; Atienza said in a public briefing. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/11/26/23/dont-panic-but-mask-up-as-respiratory-cases-spike-in-china-expert">Don&#x27;t panic but mask up as respiratory cases spike in China: expert</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Ang mga bata pumapasok, pagpasok ng mga bata, walang mask. May umuubo diyan, may sinisipon, madali ang hawaan. &#x27;Di tulad nang dati, sa pandemic, lahat tayo nasa bahay. Nagma-mask sa labas,&quot; he said. </p><p>He said the public should also consider having their flu shots annually and they should not wait to get this at the end of the year.</p><p>&quot;Dapat ang mga tao, ang kababayan natin, nagpapabakuna... binibigay ito taon-taon,&quot; he said. </p><p>DOH has said it was on alert for new pathogens following an increase in influenza-like illnesses in the country.</p><p>Meanwhile, Beijing said there were no &quot;unusual or novel pathogens&quot; in respiratory illnesses spreading in the northern part of the country.</p><p>The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) this Friday said it was coordinating with the DOH on the development, and urged the public to adhere to health protocols. </p><p>&quot;The OCD is actively monitoring developments related to the reported influenza-like illnesses in China and is urging the public to assist in combating misinformation on the matter, as the DOH has already assured everyone that it is not yet a cause for concern,&quot; OCD said. </p><p>Patients with flu-like symptoms, such as high-grade fever, cough, cold, and sore throat, who visit DOH facilities are tested to identify the virus that caused their illness, Health Undersecretary Eric Tayag said.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2887180" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><div style="text-align:center"><em><strong>Video from PTV</strong></em></div>

The relaxed COVID-19 restrictions and the changing weather could be blamed for the rise in flu-like illnesses in the Philippines, an expert said on Wednesday. 

Eased COVID rules, changing weather caused spike in flu-like illnesses: expert | ABS-CBN

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Eased COVID rules, changing weather caused spike in flu-like illnesses: expert

Eased COVID rules, changing weather caused spike in flu-like illnesses: expert

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 29, 2023 04:17 PM PHT

|

Updated Nov 29, 2023 06:04 PM PHT

Read More:

COVID19

coronavirus

flu-like illnesses

Benito Atienza

Department of Health

Office of Civil Defense

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