Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 30) — The Department of Health (DOH) said it has recorded almost 200,000 flu-like cases in 2023, up by around 50% compared to last year, amid reports about the increasing number of respiratory illnesses among children in China.
Latest data from the DOH showed that 158,762 influenza-like cases were reported to the department through the Field Health Services Information System. The number is 45.68% more than the 108,982 cases reported in the same period in 2022.
Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Source on Thursday, DOH Undersecretary Eric Tayag said samples they tested showed that most of patients were infected by Influenza A or B viruses while others were positive for COVID-19.
The findings come as China reports a surge in cases of respiratory illnesses due to the pathogen Mycoplasma pneumoniae that is mostly affecting children.
“In China, they have relaxed their restrictions in December and the way they are explaining this now, and also can hold true for the Philippines, is that those who were under strict restriction would have not developed enough immunity against other viruses or pathogens. That’s why when restrictions were relaxed and children went back to school then we see the number of cases from other pathogens other than COVID,” Tayag explained.
Aside from China, he said The Netherlands has also reported cases related to the bacteria that causes an \”atypical pneumonia” or “walking pneumonia.”
Tayag said the Philippines has recorded similar cases before, but tests are not usually done to detect the disease and that physicians immediately prescribe antibiotics once patients exhibit symptoms.
He said the disease is contagious and symptoms can linger for a long time. It can be transmitted through close contact and is common in closed settings, like schools, prisons, and households.
He said the arrival of the pathogen would be a major concern for the DOH, especially if children below eight years old are infected.
“We cannot give the same antibiotic to children less than eight because it’s contraindicated for them to get these antibiotics. So if children younger than eight years old will have Mycoplasma pneumonia, that’s a very big concern,” Tayag said.
