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Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Department of Health on Wednesday said that reports of the spread of a super flu in different parts of the world should not be a cause of alarm for Filipinos, noting that the illness is a usual “seasonal infectious disease.”While 17 cases of the super flu were detected in the Philippines in 2025, “all of them have recovered,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in a press conference in Malacañang.“It is a self-limiting illness unless mayroon kang medical condition,” he said.“[It is] not alarming but there is a new variant out there,” he said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/1/6/what-is-super-flu-is-last-year-s-vaccine-still-effective-against-it-1434">What is &#x27;super flu&#x27;? Is last year&#x27;s vaccine still effective against it? </a></div>He added Filipinos traveling to temperate areas like North America and the UK should be aware of the spread of super flu there.“Get the northern hemisphere vaccine… not the southern hemisphere shot,” he said, explaining vaccines are formulated based on the flu variants that “are most probable” to spread in certain areas.Aside from getting flu vaccines, the DOH also recommended public health precautions such as covering one’s mouth when coughing and isolating to avoid contagion.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/1/6/us-recommends-fewer-childhood-vaccines-in-major-shift-0922">US recommends fewer childhood vaccines in major shift </a></div>In 2025, the DOH clarified that there is no outbreak or alarming surge in influenza-like illness (ILI) cases nationwide.

The Department of Health on Wednesday said that reports of the spread of a super flu in different parts of the world should not be a cause of alarm for Filipinos, noting that the illness is a usual “seasonal infectious disease.”

The Department of Health on Wednesday said that reports of the spread of a super flu in different parts of the world should not be a cause of alarm for Filipinos, noting that the illness is a usual “seasonal infectious disease.”

‘Not alarming’: DOH tames worries over entry of super flu in PH

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‘Not alarming’: DOH tames worries over entry of super flu in PH

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 07, 2026 02:31 PM PHT

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Department of Health

Ted Herbosa

Super flu

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