BAGUIO CITY – The City Health Services Office (CHSO) has recently published data revealing a staggering 139 percent surge in cases of influenza-like illnesses in the city between January and November 18, compared to the corresponding period in the previous year.
According to the CHSO City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU), there have been 1,481 reported cases of influenza-like illnesses within this period in 2023.
This marks a significant spike from the 621 cases reported during the same period the year before.
While this year’s cases have increased substantially, no deaths have been recorded so far, unlike the one fatality reported in the corresponding period last year.
The data further unveils a demographic breakdown of those affected, highlighting that of the total cases, 822 were females and 659 males.
The range of those affected spanned from infants to individuals as old as 102 years.
Among the reported cases, 325 individuals required admission for medical care, reflecting the severity and impact of these illnesses on the community’s health.
The sources of this data encompassed reports from the city’s government hospital, private laboratories, and private hospitals, consolidating information from various healthcare facilities.
Specific barangays have borne the brunt of this surge in cases, with Camp 7 topping the list at 102 reported cases, followed by Loakan Proper with 79 cases and Bakakeng Central with 78 cases.
Other significantly affected areas included Irisan with 71 cases, Bakakeng Norte with 66 cases, Dontogan with 44 cases, BGH Compound and San Vicente each with 32 cases, Asin Road with 29 cases, and San Luis Village with 24 cases.
The CESU emphasized that influenza-like illnesses typically manifest symptoms such as fever, cough, or sore throat, which could be attributed to a variety of viruses including the flu virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and, notably, the coronavirus disease among others.
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