Wake up call to DOH

As of last week’s count, the Department of Health (DOH) reported there have been more than 150,000 cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) recorded nationwide. The DOH seems unfazed though and even credited its highly improved surveillance system for having detected this surge of flu-like cases. The DOH sought to assuage the public that the rising ILI incidence is not related to any resurgence of the deadly COVID-19 infection, especially new strains of this highly transmissible virus.

The DOH Epidemiology Bureau disclosed a total of 151,375 ILI cases were reported hospital admissions as of October 13. This is 45 percent higher compared to the 104,613 ILI cases reported during the same period last year, the DOH noted.

“It could be attributed to the efforts in strengthening the surveillance for other diseases as we shift our focus from COVID-19,” the DOH cited.

The DOH rationalized the rise in flu cases at this time of the year as something seasonally expected at the start of the “ber” months. “The increase in ILI coincides with the onset of rainy and colder months,” the DOH pointed out.

ILI is defined as a medical diagnosis of possible influenza or other illness causing a set of common symptoms, which include fever, shivering, chills, dry cough, loss of appetite, body aches, sneezing and nausea, with the onset of this upper respiratory infection.

On the other hand, the first detected Wuhan strain of highly transmissible COVID-19 virus causes colds, flu and could worsen into pneumonia. From March 2020 since the Wuhan outbreak, variants of COVID-19 emerged and many causing more deadly strains up to present.

From that time on until Oct. 26 this year, the DOH official tally recorded that a total of 66,735 people died in the Philippines due to COVID-19 infection. From the latest COVID-19 Bulletin of DOH, the daily average number of new COVID-19 infection cases is 164.

The country has recorded over 1,100 new cases of COVID-19 infections in the past week. Sadly, various hospitals reported a total of nine deaths while 22 patients were in severe and critical condition from October 9 to 22.

Thankfully, more than 78 million individuals in our country, or 100.44 percent of the target population have already been vaccinated against COVID-19.

In the meantime, the DOH has advised the public in its social media account: “For more information on the flu vaccine and the nearest vaccination center, you can coordinate with your local government unit.”

“The virus easily mutates. When a change occurs in the original strain of the influenza virus, the vaccine a person earlier received may not be effective anymore against the new strains (of virus),” the DOH pointed out.

“That is why our (vaccine) experts engage in a yearly updating of influenza vaccines,” the DOH cited.

The DOH tally of hospital-reported ILI patients seems to be negligible because not all who have been stricken with ILI were hospitalized. I know many people, including myself, who got downed by ILI just stayed home and recovered after taking the usual medicines against flu. And to think I got already the anti-flu vaccine this January and had already been jabbed with two primary, two booster shots, and one bivalent against COVID-19.

It’s Halloween eve today. So the DOH perhaps is avoiding scare tactics as it downplays this emerging potential public health emergency. 

After meeting at Malacañang last Monday with the health sector agency officials, “acting” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa admitted that some schools have converted to online blended learning again because of the rising number of students afflicted with ILI.

“So, reminder to everyone, it’s still flu season – get the flu shot. We have a flu shot at the DOH. So if you are ‘high risk,’ especially elderly and senior citizens, get your flu shots,” Herbosa advised the public. “Things we learned during COVID, let’s just practice these again, wear a mask also, masking again if you have a cough, colds or respiratory illness,” Herbosa added.

This perceptible lack of empathy of Herbosa makes us miss his immediate predecessor, erstwhile Health Secretary Dr. Francisco Duque III. Herbosa could only thank Duque for having installed the efficient DOH surveillance system to check against any looming public health threats. Duque generally did well during his watch when the deadly COVID-19 pandemic first broke out, except for a few controversial missteps. Duque co-chaired the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM) appointed Herbosa to head the DOH on June 5 this year. Actually, Herbosa is not new at the DOH where he previously served as one of the Undersecretaries from 2010 to 2015 during the term of the late President Benigno Simeon Aquino III.

For almost a year into office of his administration, PBBM did not name his Health Secretary. Designated during that time as officer-in-charge was incumbent Health Undersecretary Dr. Ma. Rosario Vergeire who acted as the government’s official spokesperson during the pandemic.

On the other hand, Herbosa served as one of “experts” of the IATF among the government and private medical practitioners tapped during the pandemic. Herbosa also figured prominently as one of the consultants of the Senate committee on health chaired by Mr. Duterte’s erstwhile Special Assistant to the President and currently Senator Christopher “Bong” Go. Herbosa is currently in “acting” capacity after the powerful 25-man Commission on Appointments (CA) bypassed his nomination.

PBBM issued Herbosa a new ad interim appointment on Sept. 29 when the 19th Congress adjourned last month. When Congress resumes session next week, Malacañang will have to re-submit to the CA Herbosa’s nomination to re-start his confirmation process. 

But will PBBM issue another nomination to Herbosa when Congress resumes session on Nov. 6? 

This should serve as a wake up call to the DOH chief.