Health Secretary Ted Herbosa emphasized that the new “superflu” variant is not alarming in the Philippines.
In a press briefing, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed 17 local cases after re-examining surveillance data following a surge of superflu cases in the United States and the United Kingdom.
The cases were detected in Metro Manila from July to August last year, and all patients have since recovered.
At the start of 2026, health agencies in the United States recorded a significant increase in flu cases driven by the influenza A H3N2 subclade K variant.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 11 million illnesses, around 120,000 hospitalizations, and about 5,000 deaths have been reported so far.
Amid these developments, the DOH continues to recommend vaccination.
The agency also urged the public to observe basic health precautions, including staying at home when sick and wearing face masks, to prevent the spread of infection.
