BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Health in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR) is advising anew the public to keep themselves safe and warm as cases of cold weather-related diseases reached almost 17,000 as of the first week of December.
Engineer Benelyn Balag-ey, Nurse III at the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU), in an online briefing Monday, said cases of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) like cough, colds and even whooping cough reached 16,954 from Jan. 1 to Dec. 7, 2024, with three deaths, more than twice the 8,034 cases and two deaths in the same period last year.
During the same period this year, there were 178 cases of pertussis, higher than a year-ago’s 15 cases.
Pertussis cases were mostly recorded from February to April when the weather was cold and transitioned to summer, and from September to October when several rains were experienced which added to the cold temperature.
“Take care of yourselves and ensure that you keep warm, with weather fluctuating from hot to cold, but is usually cold, especially in the evening,” Balag-ey said.
Aside from personal care, there are available additional protection that can be availed of like anti-flu vaccines, which is given to a patient once a year, and having a balanced diet to boost the immune system, she said.
Information education is being done by the department and the local health officials as a constant reminder for the public to be aware of their responsibility to themselves, she added. **Liza Agoot
