DOH on watch-out for new pathogens

THE Department of Health yesterday said there is growing concern over the surge in influenza-like illnesses (ILI) in China, while noting similarities in circumstances prior to the detection of COVID-19 in late 2019.

Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) asked China for details on its report about an increase in respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children.

Health Undersecretary Eric Tayag, in a TV interview, said, “We are concerned about the cases in China because the WHO first heard about the news when it was reported as undiagnosed pneumonia.”

“If you will recall, when COVID-19 was first detected, it was described as undiagnosed pneumonia,” he also said.

Tayag also noted the Philippines has been seeing a rise in ILI cases, with over 119,000 recorded from January 1.

“There has been a significant increase in influenza-like illnesses since the start of the year.

The adults and children are being reported as having influenza-like illnesses,” he said.

Based on initial data, Tayag said, ILI cases are mostly COVID-19 or Influenza A or B.

He, however, said the DOH is not yet ruling out the possibility of seeing other types of viruses.

“If patients are able to access our services, samples are taken and we try to confirm them.

We are doing this because we are on the watch out for new pathogens,” said Tayag.

“A combination of COVID-19 and influenza is possible. You can get separate infections from COVID-19 and influenza,” he added.

Tayag said WHO wants countries reporting increases in respiratory illnesses to report immediately so it can make a quick assessment “on whether this is a public health emergency of international concern.”

He said the scenario is no different from what the world saw in late 2019 in China.

China and WHO faced questions about transparency in reporting early in the COVID-19 pandemic which emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019.