AMID an increase in the number of influenza-like cases in the country, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) yesterday said no herbal medicine is being recommended for patients with flu.
Dr Joanne de Jesus-Cornejo, head of the RITM’s Acute Respiratory Illnesses study group, advised the public to heed the call of the Department of Health to regularly get flu shots which she said are readily available in health centers and health units nationwide.
“Influenza vaccine has been there for the longest time and is proven safe. It’s available throughout the year,” Cornejo said in an online media forum.
“As far as any herbal drug or plant targeted towards treating influenza, there is none yet,” she also said.
DOH records show 121,478 cases of influenza-like illnesses were reported from January 1 to August 26. This is 48 percent higher than the 82,210 flu cases recorded during the same period last year.