Rise in flu-like illnesses expected amid rainy season, says expert

The current increase in cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) is not out of the ordinary considering that the rainy season is ongoing, an infectious disease specialist said Wednesday.

Dr. Joanne de Jesus-Cornejo, a medical specialist from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, said this when asked at a Kapihan forum if the rising flu cases in the country should be a cause of concern.

“For me, hindi naman siya masyadong nakakatakot because it’s not out of the ordinary na maraming RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) at saka influenza these months kasi tag-ulan na,” Cornejo answered.

(For me, it’s not that alarming yet because it's not out of the ordinary that there are a lot of RSV and influenza cases these months because it's the rainy season.)

“Nasa expected seasonality naman siya. Kumbaga sa seasonality, uso talaga. Ito ‘yung months na uso talaga ang influenza at RSV infection,” she added.

(It’s in the expected seasonality. Influenza at RSV infections usually happen these months or in this season.)

The Department of Health (DOH) last Thursday confirmed that cases of influenza and COVID-19 have been increasing due to weather changes from warm to cold this rainy season.

The agency, however, stressed that such an increase in communicable disease infections is expected during the rainy season and colder months “due to the proliferation of viruses.”

Cornejo also said, based on a meeting with the DOH’s Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases, that flu cases recorded recently have not yet exceeded the alert level.

“For now, of course, anyone who gets sick naman, kahit hindi siya COVID levels ‘yung dami ng cases, it can cause concern,” she said.

(Of course, anyone who gets sick, even if the number of cases is not at the COVID-19 levels, can cause concern.)

Fever, chills, sore throats, runny or stuffy nose, cough, muscle or body aches, headaches, and fatigue are the common symptoms of flu.

Cornejo explained that the influenza virus is most contagious in the first three to four days that a person exhibits symptoms.

If one gets infected, she said that the person has to take medicines, drink lots of water or fluids, eat nutritious food, limit physical interaction with other people, observe cough etiquette, and rest. —NB, GMA Integrated News