DOH warns vs flu-like illness amid cold weather

The Department of Health (DOH) advised the public to take precautions versus an influenza-like illness that is spread by cold weather which is expected to last until February.

In Mariz Umali’s Thursday report in “24 Oras,” DOH said the illness usually spreads easily during cold weather.

“Kapag nangyari yun, yung ating respiratory tract, yung daanan ng hangin sa ating katawan, naninibago siya. Kahit walang virus kahit, walang bakteriya, naiirita yung kanilang daanan ng hangin dahil nag-iba yung moisture content ng hangin,” Health Assistant Secretary Albert Francis Domingo explained.

(When that occurs, our respiratory tract, our body’s passageway for air, experiences changes. Although there is neither virus nor bacteria, the respiratory tract is irritated due to the changing moisture content in the air.)

The Health Department said there is no upward trend of influenza-like cases despite the cases of people with colds, fevers, and body aches.

Based on DOH monitoring, 5,789 influenza-like cases were logged as of January 18.

The figure is 54% lower compared to the same period in 2024 when DOH recorded 12,620 influenza-like cases.

State Weather Bureau PAGASA said the cold weather will continue until next month.

“Itong high pressure cell magpupush ng malalamig na hangin mula sa mga bansang nakararanas ng winter season patungo dito sa ating bansa at normally, nagsastart po yan sa buwan ng Nobyembre at karaniwang tumatagal ng hanggang Pebrero ng susunod na taon, PAGASA weather services chief Chris Perez said.

(The high pressure cell will push cold winds from countries that experience the winter season towards the Philippines and normally, it starts in November and lasts until February the following year.)

The DOH advised the public to regularly wash their hands, drink seven to eight glasses of water daily, eat healthy food, and get six to eight hours of sleep every day.

The public was also reminded to stay home or to wear a face mask if they experience influenza-like symptoms. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News