The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday assured the public that there are currently no cases of super flu in the Philippines, despite rising reports in the United States and Europe.
During a press briefing at Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center in Marikina City, the DOH said the country recorded 41 cases of the super flu AH3N Subclade K from August 6 to October 24, all of which have recovered, and no cases have been reported 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.
Domingo added that Subclade K is very similar to seasonal flu and that the 2025 influenza vaccines remain effective against it.
“Wala po tayong dapat ikabahala. Ang pagbakuna ay nakakapagprotekta parin laban sa malalang sakit at pagkahospital,” he said.
Health Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa noted that rising cases of Subclade K have occurred in cold countries, particularly affecting the elderly and immuno-compromised.
“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.
“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.
Recent international reports indicate a surge in Subclade K cases, including a 14.8% increase in US influenza cases and rising hospitalizations in the UK.