No existing cases, no increase in super flu in PH – DOH

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday assured the public that there are no existing cases of super flu in the Philippines amid reports of increasing cases in the United States and Europe.

During a press conference at Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center (ARMMC) in Marikina City, the DOH said the Philippines previously recorded 41 cases of the super flu AH3N or Subclade K from August 6 to October 24.

However, the patients in these cases have already recovered and that there are also no active cases so far. In addition, no Subclade K cases were recorded before August 6.

“Sinabi din ng ating World Health Organization (WHO) risk assessment that current epidemiological data do not suggest an increase in disease severity among Subclade K cases… Hindi po lagpas or tumataas mula sa karaniwan nating mga trangkaso yung Subclade K,” said DOH spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo.

(Our World Health Organization risk assessment also said the current epidemiological data do not suggest an increase in disease severity among Subclade K cases… The cases of Subclade K are not increasing or surpassing the usual influenza cases.)

Domingo added that Subclade K is very similar to seasonal flu and that the current 2025 influenza vaccines were proven to be effective against it.

“Wala po tayong dapat ikabahala. Ang pagbakuna ay nakakapagprotekta parin laban sa malalang sakit at pagkahospital,” he said.

(There is no need to be alarmed. Vaccination can still protect us against severe illnesse and hospitalization.)

For his part, Health Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa noted that increasing cases of Subclade K occurred in cold areas with winter.

“The super flu is incidentally reported in the US, in Europe… Parang it’s affecting people that are already immunized, so they still get severe influenza. Ang winawarningan dito ay mga elderly at mga immuno-compromised. But that’s in the US, where there is very cold winter,” Herbosa said.

(The super flu is incidentally reported in the US, in Europe… It’s seemingly affecting people who are already immunized, so they still get severe influenza. We would be warning the elderly and immuno-compromised for this. But that’s in the US, where there is very cold winter.)

“Warning lang sa mga kababayan natin na bibiyahe sa America at sa Europa, sa UK where there are reports of increased cases of Subclade K… Kung sila ay at-risk, better to protect themselves. Be careful,” he added.

(Warning to our countrymen who will be traveling to America and Europe, the UK, where there are reports of increased cases of Subclade K… If they are at-risk, better to protect themselves. Be careful.)

Earlier, Reuters reported that the UK was preparing for a “worst case scenario” with a new wave of super flu cases as hospitalizations jumped to 55% in mid-December.

Meanwhile, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States reported an 14.8% increase in influenza cases in mid-December, with super flu or AH3N2 as the most reported virus for the week.

The CDC said 89.8% of their 216 AH3N2 cases since September 28 were confirmed as Subclade K cases. — JMA, GMA Integrated News