The Philippines logged 171,067 cases of influenza-like illnesses over the past 10 months, which is 49 percent higher compared to reported cases during the same period last year, the Department of Health said Wednesday. 

"The higher number of cases was sustained over the next four weeks. However, we note that cases are currently plateauing," it said, adding that it started monitoring an increase in ILI cases in late August attributed to the rainy season.

In the last three to four weeks, 11,855 ILI cases were reported, almost the same number as the 11,801 cases reported two weeks prior.

"Moreover, we anticipate the cases to decrease in the coming weeks," it said.

Covid-19 cases, too

The department said the national positivity rate for Covid-19 cases "slightly increased" to 5.5 percent from 5.3 percent last week.

It said all regions except the National Capital Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, Davao Region, Caraga, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao saw an increase in Covid-19 positivity rates compared to the previous week.

Meanwhile, all regions except the Cordillera Administrative Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and Davao Region recorded positivity rates greater than 5 percent.

The NCR, however, saw a lower positivity rate at 5.8 percent from 6.2 percent last year.

"Currently, Covid-19 cases are plateauing, and we have not observed a marked increase," the DoH said.

It urged the public to "perform individual self-assessments and, as needed, employ layers of protection such as masking, ensuring adequate ventilation, isolating when sick, as well as getting vaccinated and boosted to provide additional protection against infections or severe disease."