DOH says ‘super flu’ not alarming, urges vaccination for travelers

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday assured the public that the so-called “super flu” recently detected in the Philippines is not a cause for alarm, even as health authorities continue to closely monitor the emergence of a new flu variant.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said the cases detected in the country last year have all resolved, stressing that influenza remains a manageable illness for most people.

“(It is) not alarming, but there is a new variant out there,” Herbosa said during a Malacañang Palace press briefing when asked about the “super flu.”

According to the DOH, 17 cases of the “super flu” were detected around July last year, and all affected patients have since recovered.

“As we very well know, flu is a self-limiting illness, unless you have a medical condition or you are elderly, so we still recommend the use of the flu vaccine,” Herbosa said.

The health chief particularly advised Filipinos planning to travel to temperate countries or regions with colder climates to get vaccinated, especially as reports indicate the variant is spreading in several countries.

“I think the warning I will give is for Filipinos who will travel to temperate countries, who will go to North America, to the UK,” Herbosa said. “If you’re going there, be knowledgeable that there is a spread of the super flu in that area.”

He recommended that travelers receive the influenza vaccine appropriate for the northern hemisphere, rather than the southern hemisphere formulation.

“Maybe get the northern hemisphere vaccine. That’s my best advice for them. If you’re traveling to cold, winter places, get the shot—the northern hemisphere shot,” he added.

Health officials said the “super flu,” officially identified as subclade K, is a variant of the H3N2 virus. 

H3N2, a subtype of Influenza A, is known to cause seasonal flu outbreaks and can lead to significant illness, particularly among vulnerable populations.

The DOH reiterated its call for the public to practice preventive measures, including vaccination, especially for the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, as it continues to monitor developments related to the new flu variant.