THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday said it is on alert for a possible increase in influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) amid rain showers across the country.
“We have been recently experiencing rain showers in different parts of the country, including Metro Manila. Usually, these entail the spread of cough, colds, and flu-like symptoms, or what we call as ILI,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, in a social media post.
Herbosa urged the public to adopt safety measures against ILIs, including wearing of face masks if they have cough and colds, staying at home if they are ill, covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, ensuring good airflow or ventilation, eating nutritious food, and drinking lots of water.
The DOH has recorded 55,099 ILI cases nationwide from January 1 to until May 10.
This is seven percent lower than the 59,266 ILI cases reported during the same period as last year.
For weeks, the country has been experiencing scattered rain showers with occasional heavy rainfall.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), however, said that the official rainy season has not yet began.
