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

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

Herbosa said all the 17 cases of “super flu” detected around July last year have recovered.

“As we very well know, flu is a self-limiting illness, unless mayroon kang medical condition, elderly ka, so we still recommend the use of the flu vaccine,” said the DOH chief.

Herbosa advised the public traveling to temperate countries or regions with relatively cold climates, particularly areas reporting the spread of the “super flu,” to get vaccinated.

“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. If you’re going there, be knowledgeable that there is a spread of the super flu in that area,” Herbosa said.

“Maybe get the northern hemisphere vaccine. That’s my best advice for them. Kung magta-travel kayo, bibisita kayo sa kamag-anak ninyo sa malamig, winter places, get the shot – the northern hemisphere shot not the southern hemisphere shot,” Herbosa stressed.

Reports indicate that the “super flu,” officially identified as subclade K, is a variant of the H3N2 virus.

H3N2, a subtype of Influenza A, is known for causing seasonal flu epidemics and significant illness.

The so-called “super flu” has reportedly been spreading in several countries over the past few months. | PND