Flu cases in Kalinga up by 62% in 2023 – DOH Cordillera

Tabuk City, Kalinga – More individuals in Kalinga have been documented to have caught the flu in 2023.

Data from the Department of Health Cordillera showed that 7,021 people in the region were infected with influenza-like illness or ILI from January 1 to December 31, 2023. This marked a 75% increase in cases compared to 2022.

Based on the breakdown of the figure, Benguet has the highest ILI cases with 2,850; followed by Baguio City with 1,687, then Kalinga with 1,048.

These cases in Kalinga were monitored to have doubled, marking an increase of 62% from the ILI cases in 2022.

As for Severe Acute Respiratory Illness or SARI, the same trend goes for the Cordillera region, recording 1,465 cases, which is 92% higher compared to 2022. The Province of Kalinga still monitored the third-highest SARI with 201 people getting infected and a 253% increase in cases compared to 2022.

DOH Cordillera further revealed in their report that most people were infected with ILI and SARI during the election day in October, All Saint’s Day, and during the rainy season last year.

Kristine Gale Raguindin, DOH – CAR Nurse III, reminded the public to follow standard precautions should they feel symptoms of influenza-like illness. This, she said, does not only protect them but also the vulnerable population like pregnant individuals and senior citizens.

“We should take this as a social responsibility na kung may nararamdaman po tayong sintomas ng influenza-like-illness, let’s do the standard precautions,” she said.