No outbreak of ‘walking pneumonia’ in PH, Herbosa says

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa on Tuesday said that there is no outbreak of the mycoplasma pneumoniae or the “walking pneumonia” in the Philippines amid the rising cases of respiratory illness in China and other European countries.

Herbosa reiterated that the surge of respiratory illness in China is not caused by a new virus but by previous microbes like mycoplasma pneumoniae, respiratory syncytial virus, and influenza.

“Sa Philippines po, wala pang outbreak according to our Epidemiology Bureau, although marami ang cases because ito po talaga yung season ng respiratory illness,” he said during the hearing of the Commission on Appointments on his ad interim appointment as Health Secretary.

(There is no outbreak yet in the Philippines, according to our Epidemiology Bureau. Although there are many cases because this is actually the season of respiratory illness.) 

Health Undersecretary Eric Tayag said last Thursday that the mycoplasma pneumoniae seemingly works like COVID-19.

According to him, the bacterial infection is so contagious that even before symptoms such as cough appear, the infected person can already transmit it to another person through close contact.

The DOH said it is waiting for the report of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) if the increase of pneumonia cases in its facility is due to mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Herbosa thus advised the public to follow the health protocols observed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as wearing of face masks.

“‘Yung natutunan natin nung COVID, ‘yung social distancing at saka ‘yung pagsuot ng face mask, cough etiquette para hindi magkahawaan. Kung may sakit ang bata, wag nang papapasukin para hindi makahawa ng ibang bata sa eskwelahan,” he said. 

(We should practice what we learned during COVID such as social distancing, wearing a face mask, and cough etiquette so that people will not get infected. If the child is sick, do not let him/her go to school so as to not infect other children.)

Dr. Rontgene Solante, an infectious disease expert, reiterated that the "walking pneumonia" is not a new disease.

"'Yung sintomas nito ay kagaya din ng flu, kagaya ng ubo, lagnat, sore throat at saka 'yung sipon-sipon. And usually ang walking pneumonia, kaya nga tinatawag siyang walking pneumonia, you don't need to treat them," Dr. Solante said in an interview on GTV's Balitanghali.

(Its symptoms are similar to the flu, such as cough, fever, sore throat, and then the common cold. And usually walking pneumonia, that's why it's called walking pneumonia, you don't need to treat them.) 

"Ibig sabihin, kadalasan nito, they will recover and after 7 or 10 days they can go back to work, nawawala ang sintomas and I think this is not something to be alarmed with. Ang importante lang siguro rito, we need to implement again 'yung mga pagsusuot ng face mask sa mga matataong lugar," he added. 

(That means, usually, they will recover. After 7 or 10 days they can go back to work, and the symptoms disappear. I think this is not something to be alarmed with. What's important is keeping ourselves safe, such as wearing face masks.)

Aside from respiratory tract illnesses, the health expert also noted that other diseases such as dengue and leptospirosis are very common during this time of the year. —with Sherylin Untalan/ VAL, GMA Integrated News